Physics Goals and Status of JEM-EUSO and its Test Experiments

TL;DR

The JEM-EUSO mission aims to study extreme energy cosmic rays from space using a superwide-field telescope on the ISS, with ongoing test experiments to validate its detection capabilities and scientific objectives.

Contribution

This paper provides an overview of JEM-EUSO's scientific goals, instrument status, and updates on test experiments, highlighting its novel space-based observation approach.

Findings

Successful operation of test experiments like EUSO-Balloon and EUSO-TA

Validation of detection capabilities for air-shower fluorescence light

Progress in instrument design and mission planning

Abstract

The JEM-EUSO mission aims to explore the origin of the extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs) through the observation of air-shower fluorescence light from space. The superwide-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. Such a space detector offers the remarkable opportunity to observe a huge volume of atmosphere at once and will achieve an unprecedented statistics within a few years of operation. Several test experiments are currently in operation: e.g., one to observe the fluorescence background from the edge of the Atmosphere (EUSO-Balloon), or another to demonstrate on ground the capability of detecting air showers with a EUSO-type telescope (EUSO-TA). In this contribution a short review on the scientific objectives of the mission and an update of the instrument definition, performances and status, as well as status of the test experiments will be given.