| Abstract |
The Extreme Universe Space Observatory on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM-EUSO) of the International Space Station (ISS) is the first mission that will study Ultra High-Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) from space. JEM-EUSO will observe Extensive Air Showers (EAS) produced by UHECRs traversing the Earth's atmosphere from above. This project will help to clarify the origin and sources of UHECRs as well as the environment traversed during production and propagation.
Possibly, this will bring new light onto particle physics mechanisms operating at energies well beyond those achievable by man-made accelerators.
The scientific goals of the JEM-EUSO include a systematic observation of the surface of the Earth in the infra-red and ultra-violet bands, studying also atmospheric phenomena (Transient Luminous Effects, aurorae, phenomena of bioluminescence.).
The apparatus is a 2 ton detector using Fresnel-based optics to focus the ultraviolet (UV) light from EAS on a focal surface composed of about 6,000 multianode photomultipliers for a total of 300,000 channels.
Micro-UVT is a compact telescope with wide Field-of-view (F# 0.92) based on an optical system employing Fresnel lenses, with a focal surface of 768 pixels. It is capable of detecting very low signals (few photons) from space in the UV range by using high speed (microsecond) electronics. The detector is based on the same technology of JEM-EUSO and is devoted to the observation of the Earth in various night conditions, from oceans, to ground (snow, towns, forest, ice, tundra….) and in changing moon phases.
The telescope will be launched in the pressured section of the ISS, soft-coupled to the launch capsule.
Once on the station it will be tested in the pressurized section, either in the WORF window or in the UV-transparent window of the Russian Section of the ISS.
Subsequently it will be placed - using the JEM airlock - on the outside to the station and coupled to the robotic arm to perform observations of the earth during the night in the UV range.
A number of sessions, in various conditions and time will be performed.
In this seminar we will discuss the status and perspectives of the two missions both respect to cosmic ray astrophysics and Earth Observations and in light of existing missions. |
