Cosmic-ray Research Division
Institute for Space–Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University

Members

The Cosmic-ray Research Division (also known as CR Lab) is one of the largest research group in the physics department of Nagoya University. We have 9 faculty members and a number of graduate and undergraduate students, who engage in variety of cosmic-ray experiment projects.

CR group photo
Group photo of the CR Lab members of 2023
Faculty group photo
Faculty members and Postdocs. From left to right, Kazama, Miyake, Tajima, Okumura, Matsubara, Kobayashi, Takahashi, Itow, Ohashi, and Menjo (Prof. Yamaoka was absent).
  1. Faculty Staff
  2. Visitor
  3. Doctoral Students
  4. Marsters Students
  5. Undergraduate Students
  6. Support Staff

Faculty Staff

Yoshitaka ITOW

itow@ Personal Page

Professor Yoshitaka ITOW

I am working on cutting-edge fields between particle physics and astrophysics in various research fields in cosmic ray physics. I study very high-energy interac- tions of cosmic rays with accelerators such as LHC or RHIC in LHCf/RHICf experiments. I also work on neutrino physics at Super-Kamiokande and dark matter searches in the XMASS liquid xenon experiment.

(Concurrent Post) Kobayashi–Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe (KMI), Nagoya University

Hiroyasu TAJIMA

tajima@ Personal Page

Professor Hiroyasu TAJIMA

I am investigating origins, acceleration mechanisms, and propagation of cosmic rays, and search for gamma-ray signals from dark matter by development of semiconductor sensors and integrated circuits for gamma-ray instruments such as the *Fermi* satellite and Cherenkov Telescope Array and their data analysis. I am also developing microsatellites to stimulate satellite applications.

(Concurrent Post) Center for Orbital and Suborbital Observations, ISEE

Fusa MIYAKE

fmiyake@ Personal Page

Associate Prof. Fusa MIYAKE

I am currently studying the variations of past cosmic ray intensities and solar activities by measuring the 14C content in tree rings and 10Be concentrations in ice cores. I am aiming to understand the occurrence features of extreme solar proton events through the investigation of 14C data over the past several tens of thousands of years. I am also interested in annual dating of ancient samples by using rapid 14C variations.

Shingo KAZAMA

kazama@ Personal Page

Associate Prof. Shingo KAZAMA

I’m particularly interested in the nature of dark matter in our universe. Currently, I’m working on analysing the data acquired by XENONnT detector, the world’s largest dark matter detector ever built. I’m also working on R&D projects for the future DARWIN experiment.

Belonging to Kobayashi–Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe (KMI), Nagoya University

Kazutaka YAMAOKA

yamaoka@ Personal Page

Designated Assoc. Prof. Kazutaka YAMAOKA

I am aiming at unveiling relation between accretion disks and relativistic jets around a black hole and radiation mechanisms of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using X-ray and gamma-ray satellites. I am also recently working on solar neutron observations from space using a micro-satellite.

Belonging to the Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS), Nagoya University

Akira OKUMURA

oxon@mac.com Personal Page

Lecturer (Jr. Assoc. Prof.) Akira OKUMURA

I study cosmic gamma-ray radiation by the Fermi satellite and develop the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), which is planned to start its full operation in 2020s. I am interested in the origin of Galactic cosmic rays and indirect dark-matter search by gamma-ray observation.

(Concurrent Post) Kobayashi–Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe (KMI), Nagoya University

Hiroaki MENJO

menjo@ Personal Page

Assistant Prof. Hiroaki MENJO

For my research, I study high-energy particle interactions of cosmic rays using an accelerator. Cosmic rays interact with interstellar gas or the Earth's atmosphere and produce numerous particles. A precise understanding of cosmic-ray interactions is important to solve the mystery of the origin of cosmic rays. I am currently measuring particles produced in high-energy interactions at the world's biggest accelerator, LHC.

(Concurrent Post) Center for International Collaborative Research, ISEE

Mitsunari TAKAHASHI

takahashi.mitsunari@ Personal Page

Designated Assistant Prof. Mitsunari TAKAHASHI

I am working on the development and calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the development of novel data classes of *Fermi* Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and data analysis of active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts.

Masatoshi KOBAYASHI

kobayashi.masatoshi@

Designated Assistant Prof. Masatoshi KOBAYASHI

I have been working on the direct search of dark matter, using liquid xenon detectors. Currently, the main research topic is the data analysis and hardware development for XENONnT experiment in LNGS, Italy. I am also working on the R&D project for future large scale dark matter search, DARWIN experiment.

Belonging to Kobayashi–Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe (KMI), Nagoya University

Visitor

Steve Playfer

Visiting Professor Steve Playfer

Doctoral Students

Grade Name Project
D1BANG Sunghyunbang.seonghyun@ Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)

Marsters Students

Grade Name Project
M2Yuga KITAGAMIkitagami.yuga@ LHCf Experiment
M2Shun SAKAMOTOsakamoto.shun@ XENON Experiment
M2Tomoya HASEGAWAhasegawa.tomoya@ XENON Experiment
M2Yushi YOSHIOKAyoshioka.yushi@ Super-Kamiokande/Hyper-Kamiokande
M1Yuto OMOTANIomotani.yuto@ Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)
M1Ryu KAWARASAKIkawarasaki.ryu@ Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)
M1Kosuke KINOSHITAkinoshita.kosuke@
M1Shin KUSHIMAkushima.shin@
M1Haruka KOBAYASHIkobayashi.haruka@
M1Kaede HIRAOKAhiraoka.kaede@
M1Akito MATSUZAKImatsuzaki.akito@
M1Ryuta MIYATAmiyata.ryuta@ XENON Experiment

Undergraduate Students

1 students

Support Staff

  • Administrative Staff: 2
  • Technical Staff: 4