Abstract
The JEM-EUSO mission will explore the origin of the extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs) through the observation of their arrival directions and energies. The super-wide-field telescope looks down from the International Space Station onto the night sky to detect UV photons fluorescence and Cherenkov photons) emitted from air showers generated by EECRs in the Atmosphere. Such a space detector offers the opportunity to observe a huge volume of atmosphere at once and will achieve unprecedented statistical accuracy within a few years of operation. The JEM-EUSO mission will be installed on the Japanese module of the International Space Station. Two test experiments are currently prepared; one to observe the fluorescence background from the edge of the Atmosphere (EUSO-Balloon), and the other to demonstrate, on ground, the capability of all sub-systems of the EUSO instrument (TA-EUSO). In this paper a short review on the scientific objectives and an update of the instrument definition, performances and status of the mission, as well as of the status of the two preceded test experiments will be given.
Highlights
The Japanese Module (JEM)-Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) mission will explore the origin of the extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs) through the observation of their arrival directions and energies
The JEM-EUSO mission will explore the origin of the extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs) through the observation of their arrival directions and energies
This denotes a substantial difference to ground-based fluorescence observatories: the signals of extensive air showers (EAS) from higher altitudes are efficiently observed with no or limited attenuation in cloudy cases if either thick clouds are at low altitudes or optically thin clouds are present at high altitudes
Summary
The least explored region of the wide spanning cosmic ray energy spectrum is the one of the highest energies; i.e. the Extreme Energy Cosmic Rays - EECR. Five exploratory objectives were defined [4]: (i) the detection of extreme energy gamma rays; (ii) the detection of extreme energy neutrinos; (iii) exploratory studies of the galactic magnetic fields; (iv) fundamental physics. Studies (e.g. Lorentz invariance tests) at extreme energies; (v) global survey of nightglows, plasma discharges, lightning, meteors and other terrestrial transient sources in UV light
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