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Experiment Overview


Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

The Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) investigation is designed to continuously monitor, through a systematic survey, X-ray sources and variabilities as the International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth. Located at Equipment Exchange Unit (EER) site 1 on the Japanese Experiment Module - Exposed Facility (JEF), MAXI is comprised of a couple highly sensitive X-ray detectors, the Gas Slit Camera (GSC) and the Solid-state Slit Camera (SSC). Besides the goal of performing a complete sky survey, this research helps to address fundamental astrophysics questions and allows researchers to better understand the current state and evolution of our Universe.

Principal Investigator(s)

Masaru Matsuoka, Ph.D., Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Saitama, Japan

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Atsumasa Yoshida, Ph.D., Aoyama Gakuin University, Kanagawa, Japan

Hiroshi Tsunemi, Ph.D., Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

Nobuyuki Kawai, Ph.D., Tokyo Institute of Technology and Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Tokyo, Japan

Shiro Ueno, JAXA, Japan

Tatehiro Mihara, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Saitama, Japan

Hitoshi Negoro, Ph.D, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan

Yoshihiro Ueda, Ph.D., Kyoto University, Kyota, Japan

Developer(s)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, , Japan

Sponsoring Space Agency

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

Research Benefits

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

March 2009 - September 2014

Expeditions Assigned

19/20,21/22,23/24,25/26,27/28,29/30,31/32,33/34,35/36,37/38,39/40

Previous ISS Missions

RXTE/ASM

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• The long-term time variability and random transient events are difficult to study with pointing telescopes, and require dedicated all sky mission. To research exotic phenomena systematically, the latest X-ray astronomical catalog is needed.



• MAXI continues to detect X-ray transient phenomena and rapidly inform the world of its position and brightness. The observation results about 1000 X-ray sources are provided in every day. MAXI also provides the latest X-ray catalog.



• MAXI will transmit an alert through the Internet when it detects any significant transient event, Other observatories or satellites can turn their telescopes toward the source to make follow-up observations.

Description

Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) is an X-ray all-sky monitor, to scan almost the entire sky once every 96 minutes for a mission life of more than two years. MAXI on ISS has been observing the X-ray sky from Aug 2009. The detection sensitivity will be about 20 mCrab(5 sigma level) for one-orbit MAXI operation, 2?3 mCrab for one day, and 1 mCrab for one week, reaching a source confusion limit of 0.2 mCrab in one-year observation. The systematic survey of the X-ray variabilities to study the nature of active celestial objects is an important objective of MAXI. So far, MAXI has detected many X-ray transient phenomena and rapidly informed the world of its sky positions and X-ray brightness. In principle. The astronomical data obtained with MAXI is now available at the MAXI web site.

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

Information Pending

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Since the continuous monitoring of the X-ray sky is important, MAXI is conducting the observation in 24x7. Continuous power and thermal control is required. To catch the transient phenomenon quickly, real time data transfer important. It is also important to minimize the data loss in order to make a complete sky survey.

Operational Protocols

The X-ray camera of MAXI must stop the observation during the sun is in the field of view or ISS is in the dense cosmic-particle regions (e.g. South Atlantic anomaly). It is necessary to properly control the X-ray cameras. It is important to predict the attitude and position of ISS precisely. The data broadcasted on ISS is also utilized for the camera control.

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Results/More Information

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Results Publications

Morii M, Sugizaki M, Kawai N, Serino M, Yamazaki T, Yamamoto T, Usui R, Daikyuji A, Ebisawa K, Eguchi S, Hiroi K, Ishikawa M, Isobe N, Kawasaki K, Kimura M, Kitayama H, Kohama M, Matsumura T, Matsuoka M, Mihara T, Nakagawa YE, Nakahira S, Nakajima M, Negoro H, Ozawa H, Shidatsu M, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Suwa F, Tomida H, Tsuboi Y, Tsunemi H, Ueda Y, Ueno S, Uzawa A, Yamaoka K, Yoshida A.  MAXI GSC monitoring of the Crab nebula and pulsar during the GeV gamma-ray flare in September 2010. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2011; 302(1): 012062. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/302/1/012062.


Matsuoka M, Suzuki M, Kawasaki K, Ueno S, Tomida H, Adachi Y, Ishikawa M, Itamoto Y, Takahashi D, Katayama H, Ebisawa K, Mihara T, Kohama M, Sugizaki M, Nakagawa YE, Yamamoto T, Tsunemi H, Kimura M, Kawai N, Morii M, Sugimori K, Yoshida A, Yamaoka K, Nakahira S, Takahashi I, Negoro H, Nakajima M, Ishiwata R, Miyoshi S, Ozawa H, Ueda Y, Isobe N, Eguchi S, Hiroi K, Yamauchi M, Daikyuji A.  The First Light from MAXI onboard JEM (Kibo) EF on ISS. American Institute of Physics Conference Proceedings. 2010; 1248(531): 531-536. DOI: 10.1063/1.3475334.


Matsuoka M, Sugizaki M, Tsuboi Y, Yamazaki K, Matsumura T, Mihara T, Serino M, Nakahira S, Yamamoto T, Ueno S, Negoro H.  A contribution of stellar flares to the GRXE - based on MAXI observations. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2010; 1427: 294-295.


Hiroi K, Ueda Y, Isobe N, Hayashida M, Eguchi S, Sugizaki M, Kawai N, Tsunemi H, Matsuoka M, Mihara T, Yamaoka K, Ishikawa M, Kimura M, Kitayama H, Kohama M, Matsumura T, Morii M, Nakagawa YE, Nakahira S, Nakajima M, Negoro H, Serino M, Shidatsu M, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Suwa F, Toizumi T, Tomida H, Tsuboi Y, Ueno S, Usui R, Yamamoto T, Yamazaki K, Yoshida A.  The First MAXI/GSC Catalog in the High Galactic-Latitude Sky. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2011: 14 pp.


Yamamoto T, Sugizaki M, Mihara T, Nakajima M, Yamaoka K, Matsuoka M, Morii M, Makishima K.  Discovery of a Cyclotron Resonance Feature in the X-ray Spectrum of GX 304-1 with RXTE and Suzaku During Outbursts Detected by MAXI in 2010. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2010: 7 pp.


Morii M, Kawai N, Usui R, Sugimori K, Sugizaki M, Mihara T, Yamamoto T, Matsuoka M.  MAXI Monitoring of Crab Pulsar during the GeV Gamma-ray Flare on September 2010. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2011; 302(1): 012062. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/302/1/012062.


Burrows DN, Kennea JA, Ghisellini G, Mangano V, Zhang B, Page KL, Eracleous M, Romano P, Sakamoto T, Falcone AD, Osborne JP, Campana S, Beardmore AP, Breeveld AA, Chester MM, Corbet R, Covino S, Cummings JR, D'Avanzo P, D'Elia V, Esposito P, Evans PA, Fugazza D, Gelbord JM, Hiroi K, Holland ST, Huang KY, Im M, Israel G, Jeon YJ, Jeon YB, Jun HD, Kawai N, Kim JH, Krimm HA, Marshall FE, Meszaros P, Negoro H, Omodei N, Park WK, Perkins JS, Sugizaki M, Sung HI, Tagliaferri G, Troja E, Ueda Y, Urata Y, Usui R, Antonelli LA, Barthelmy SD, GC, Giommi P, Melandri A, Perri M, Racusin JL, Sbarufatti B, Siegel MH, Gehrels N.  Relativistic jet activity from the tidal disruption of a star by a massive black hole. Nature. 2011 Aug 25; 476(7361): 421-424. DOI: 10.1038/nature10374.


Uzawa A, Tsuboi Y, Morii M, Yamazaki K, Kawai N, Matsuoka M, Nakahira S, Serino M, Matsumura T, Mihara T, Tomida H, Ueda Y, Sugizaki M, Ueno S, Daikyuji A, Ebisawa K, Eguchi S, Hiroi K, Ishikawa M, Isobe N, Kawasaki K, Kimura M, Kitayama H, Kohama M, Kotani T, Nakagawa YE, Nakajima M, Negoro H, Ozawa H, Shidatsu M, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Suwa F, Tsunemi H, Usui R, Yamamoto T, Yamaoka K, Yoshida A.  A Large X-ray Flare from a Single Weak-lined T Tauri Star TWA-7 Detected with MAXI GSC. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2011; 63(SP3): S713-S716.


Nakahira S, Yamaoka K, Sugizaki M, Ueda Y, Negoro H, Ebisawa K, Kawai N, Matsuoka M, Tsunemi H, Daikyuji A, Eguchi S, Hiroi K, Ishikawa M, Ishiwata R, Isobe N, Kawasaki K, Kimura M, Kohama M, Mihara T, Miyoshi S, Morii M, Nakagawa YE, Nakajima M, Ozawa H, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Suzuki M, Tomida H, Ueno S, Yamamoto T, Yoshida A.  MAXI GSC observations of a spectral state transition in the black hole candidate XTE J1752?223. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2010 Oct; 62(5): 27-L32.


Serino M, Yoshida A, Kawai N, Nakagawa YE, Mihara T, Ueda Y, Nakahira S, Eguchi S, Hiroi K, Ishikawa M, Isobe N, Kimura M, Kitayama H, Kohama M, Matsumura T, Matsuoka M, Morii M, Nakajima M, Negoro H, Shidatsu M, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Sugizaki M, Suwa F, Toizumi T, Tomida H, Tsuboi Y, Tsunemi H, Ueno S, Usui R, Yamamoto T, Yamaoka K, Yamauchi M, Yamazaki K.  Peculiarly Narrow SED of GRB 090926B with MAXI and Fermi/GBM. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2011; 63(SP3): S1035-S1040.


Shidatsu M, Ueda Y, Nakahira S, Negoro H, Yamaoka K, Sugizaki M, Hiroi K, Kawai N, Mihara T, Matsuoka M, Kimura M, Ishikawa M, Isobe N, Kitayama H, Kohama M, Matsumura T, Morii M, Nakagawa YE, Nakajima M, Serino M, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Suwa F, Toizumi T, Tomida H, Tsuboi Y, Tsunemi H, Ueno S, Usui R, Yamamoto T, Yamazaki K, Yoshida A.  Long-term Monitoring of the Black Hole Binary GX 339-4 in the High/Soft State during the 2010 Outburst with MAXI/GSC. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2011; 63(SP3): S803-S811.


Nakahira S, Koyama S, Ueda Y, Yamaoka K, Sugizaki M, Mihara T, Matsuoka M, Yoshida A, Makishima K, Ebisawa K, Kubota A, Yamada S, Negoro H, Hiroi K, Ishikawa M, Kawai N, Kimura M, Kitayama H, Kohama M, Matsumura T, Morii M, Nakajima M, Serino M, Shidatsu M, Sootome T, Sugimori K, Suwa F, Tomida H, Tsuboi Y, Tsunemi H, Ueno S, Usui R, Yamamoto T, Yamazaki K, Tashiro MS, Terada Y, Seta H.  A Spectral Study of the Black Hole Candidate XTE J1752-223 in the High/Soft State with MAXI, Suzaku and Swift. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2012; 64(1).


Isobe N, Sugimori K, Kawai N, Ueda Y, Negoro H, Sugizaki M, Matsuoka M, Daikyuji A, Eguchi S, Hiroi K, Ishikawa M, Ishiwata R, Kawasaki K, Kimura M, Kohama M, Mihara T, Miyoshi S, Morii M, Nakagawa YE, Nakahira S, Nakajima M, Ozawa H, Sootome T, Suzuki M, Tomida H, Tsunemi H, Ueno S, Yamamoto T, Yamaoka K, Yoshida A.  Bright X-ray flares from the BL Lac object Mrk 421, detected with MAXI in 2010 January and February. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2010; 62(6): 55-60.


Usui R, Kawai N, Morii M, Sugimori K, Mihara T, Yamamoto T, Matsuoka M.  Outburst of LS V+44 17 Observed by MAXI and RXTE, and Discovery of a Dip Structure in the Pulse Profile. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2011; 302: 012061. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/302/1/012061.


Kennea JA, Romano P, Mangano V, Beardmore AP, Evans PA, Curran PA, Krimm HA, Yamaoka K.  Swift Follow-up Observations of MAXI Discovered Galactic Transients. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 2011: 6 pp.

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Ground Based Results Publications

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ISS Patents

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Related Publications

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Related Websites

The information on this web page was duplicated from information provided by JAXA. Please visit the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo Experiments to learn more about this payload and others.

MAXI (RIKEN)

The MAXI Experiment

MAXI (Japanese)

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Imagery

Pictured above is the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) that is mounted externally on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) onboard the ISS. (Image provided by JAXA.)
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The "First Light" all-sky X-ray image obtained with the Gas Slit Camera (GSC) of MAXI over one ISS orbit. Image courtesy of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
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NASA Image: S127E009561 - View of MAXI attached to the Japanese Experiment Module - Exposed Facility (JEF). Photo was taken during STS-127 / Expedition 20 Joint Operations.
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On March 28, 2011, NASA's Swift detected intense X-ray flares thought to be caused by a black hole devouring a star. In one model, illustrated here, a sun-like star on an eccentric orbit plunges too close to its galaxy's central black hole. About half of the star's mass feeds an accretion disk around the black hole, which in turn powers a particle jet that beams radiation toward Earth.
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