Calibration of the JEM-EUSO detector

¹ Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
² University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35812, USA
³ NASA – Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812, USA
⁴ APC, Université Paris Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
⁵ Department of Physics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA

^a e-mail: naoto.sakaki@kit.edu

Abstract

In order to unveil the mystery of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), JEM-EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory on-board Japan Experiment Module) will observe extensive air showers induced by UHECRs from the International Space Station orbit with a huge acceptance. Calibration of the JEM-EUSO instrument, which consists of Fresnel optics and a focal surface detector with 5000 photomultipliers, is very important to discuss the origin of UHECRs precisely with the observed results. In this paper, the calibration before launch and on-orbit is described. The calibration before flight will be performed as precisely as possible with integrating spheres. In the orbit, the relative change of the performance will be checked regularly with on-board and on-ground light sources. The absolute calibration of photon detection efficiency may be performed with the moon, which is a stable light source in the nature.