3-D imaging of subsurface structure in planetary missions

Abstract Ground tests using the Tagged Neutrons Method/Associated Particle Imaging methodology (TNM/API) have been conducted for a hypothetical scenario of gamma-ray measurements on the Mars surface. The main objective was to study applicability of TNM/API to detect heterogeneities in the subsurface under a martian lander or rover. We analyzed a possibility for identifying the soil layering structure where subsurface layers can be rich or deficit with some chemical elements. It was found that the TNM/API can be used to perform a 3-D modeling of subsurface and reveal layers enriched with carbon and layers with different concentrations of silicon.