Exploring the UHE Universe from space

by Andrea Sanangelo (Universität Tübingen)

Monday 6 Feb 2012, 14:15 → 15:45 Europe/Berlin

Seminar room 3344 (TUM - Physics Department - Garching)

After fifty years from their discovery, the nature, the origin, the propagation to Earth of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (cosmic particles with energy in excess of 5x10^19 eV) lie still in the dark. In my talk I will first discuss the science case at the base of the exploration of the Ultra High Energy Universe, presenting all findings and contradictions of the current observational scenario. I will also briefly present the quest for UHE neutrinos and photons. I will then discuss the new experimental efforts in the field, focusing on the science requirements, the expected performances and the instrumental aspects of the challenging JEM-EUSO mission: the Extreme Universe Space Observatory onboard the JEM module of the International Space Station.