Calibration of the BepiColombo environmental radiation monitor (BERM) and cross-calibration with solar intensity X-ray and particle spectrometer (SIXS) during solar energetic particle events
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor (BERM) is a housekeeping instrument onboard the BepiColombo mission, capable of measuring electron, proton, and heavy-ion fluxes. Due to its quasi-continuous data acquisition throughout all mission phases, BERM provides valuable contributions to both mission operations and scientific analysis of the space radiation environment. This study presents the calibration methodology applied to the electron and proton channels of BERM, along with its validation and cross-calibration with the solar intensity and X-ray spectrometer (SIXS), also onboard of BepiColombo mission. The bow–tie method was employed to calibrate each channel by determining its effective energy and geometric factor enabling the conversion of count rates into physical fluxes. The calibration validation with SIXS data of BERM proton channels P1 to P5 result in a mean deviation in the flux lower than 6%. BERM calibrated channels proved to be consistent with SIXS measurements, enhancing the relevance of BERM to the analysis of the space radiation environment, and in particular to Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) events.
Source: Earth Planets and Space
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,640
Funders: Helsingin Yliopisto, European Space Agency, European Commission, Academy of Finland, Turun Yliopisto, Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
OpenAlex ID: W7163172058