ExoMars Raman laser spectrometer breadboard: detector design and performance

The Raman Laser Spectrometer is scheduled for launch on board the ESA ExoMars mission in 2018. Its purpose is to perform analysis of the Raman signal scattered from crushed core samples retrieved from up to 2m below the Martian surface. In support of this activity an RLS breadboard instrument has been assembled whose focal plane incorporates an inverted mode CCD cooled to between -10°C and -40°C. The thermal, mechanical and detector design of this elegant breadboard instrument focal plane is described, and the system performance is evaluated in terms of the noise characteristics and dynamic range.