The JEM-EUSO mission

Abstract

JEM-EUSO is a space science mission to explore extreme energies and physics\nof the Universe. Its instrument will watch the dark-side of the earth and will\ndetect UV photons emitted from the extensive air shower caused by an Ultra-High\nEnergy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs above 10^18 eV), or Extremely High Energy Cosmic Ray\n(EHECR) particle (e.g., above about 10^20 eV). Such a high-rigidity particles\nas the latter arrives almost in a straight-line from its origin through the\nmagnetic fields of our Milky Way Galaxy and is expected to allow us to trace\nthe source location by its arrival direction. This nature can open the door to\nthe new astronomy with charged particles. In its five years operation including\nthe tilted mode, JEM-EUSO will detect at least 1,000 events with E>7x10^19 eV\nwith the GZK cutoff spectrum. It can determine the energy spectrum and source\nlocations of GZK to super-GZK regions with a statistical accuracy of several\npercent. JEM-EUSO is planned to be deployed by H2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV) and\nwill be attached to the Japanese Experiment Module/ Exposure Facility (JEM/EF)\nof International Space Station. JAXA has selected JEM-EUSO as one of the\nmission candidates of the second phase utilization of JEM/EF for the launch in\nearly-to-mid 2010s.\n