The Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer is a highly novel instrument that is designed to map Mercury’s elemental composition from orbit at two angular resolutions. By observing the fluorescence X-rays generated when solar-coronal X-rays and charged particles interact with the surface regolith, MIXS will be able to measure the atomic composition of the upper ∼10-20 μm of Mercury’s surface on the day-side. Through precipitating particles on the night-side, MIXS will also determine the dynamic interaction of the planet’s surface with the surrounding space environment. MIXS is composed of two complementary elements: MIXS-C is a collimated instrument which will achieve global coverage at a similar spatial resolution to that achieved (in the northern hemisphere only – i.e. ∼ 50 – 100 km) by MESSENGER; MIXS-T is the first ever X-ray telescope to be sent to another planet and will, during periods of high solar activity (or intense precipitation of charged particles), reveal the X-ray flux from Mercury at better than 10 km resolution. The design, performance, scientific goals and operations plans of the instrument are discussed, including the initial results from commissioning in space.

中文翻译：

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BepiColombo 汞成像 X 射线光谱仪：科学目标、仪器性能和操作

水星成像 X 射线光谱仪是一种高度新颖的仪器，旨在以两个角分辨率从轨道绘制水星的元素组成。通过观察日冕 X 射线和带电粒子与表面风化层相互作用时产生的荧光 X 射线，MIXS 将能够测量日侧水星表面上部 10-20 微米的原子组成。通过在夜间沉淀粒子，MIXS 还将确定行星表面与周围空间环境的动态相互作用。MIXS 由两个互补元素组成： MIXS-C 是一种准直仪器，它将实现全球覆盖，其空间分辨率与 MESSENGER 实现的空间分辨率（仅在北半球 – 即 50 – 100 公里）相似；MIXS-T 是有史以来第一台被发送到另一颗行星的 X 射线望远镜，它将在太阳活动频繁（或带电粒子的强烈降水）期间以超过 10 公里的分辨率揭示来自水星的 X 射线通量。讨论了该仪器的设计、性能、科学目标和操作计划，包括空间调试的初步结果。