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Ando Lab
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The lab observes the universe through gravitational waves and pioneers extreme precision measurement.
AboutAbout the lab
Building a new set of eyes to see the universe through gravitational waves
Ando Lab conducts research that pioneers gravitational-wave astronomy.
Detecting gravitational waves would give us a new means of observing the universe.
To achieve this, the lab develops extreme precision measurement technologies, including quantum-optical techniques for laser interferometers, research on thermal noise, and vibration isolation.
The lab also uses these technologies to carry out fundamental physics experiments that test gravity and relativity.
Key terms
- Gravitational waves
- Ripples in spacetime produced when massive objects move violently, which propagate as waves at the speed of light
- Laser interferometer
- A device that splits a laser beam into two, recombines the beams, and reads out tiny changes in length
- Thermal noise
- Fluctuations that arise from the thermal motion of the atoms that make up an object. It interferes with precise measurements
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received a Poster Award at the KAGRA F2F meeting
Assistant Professor Naoki Aritomi has joined the lab
A paper from a joint research project was published in Classical and Quantum Gravity
A paper by a doctoral student was published in Physical Review D
A paper from a joint research project was published in Optics Express
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to pioneer gravitational-wave astronomy and obtain a new means of observing the universe. It also develops precision measurement technologies, such as quantum-optical techniques for laser interferometers, thermal noise research, and vibration isolation, and uses them in fundamental physics experiments on gravity and relativity.
*Illustrative imageKAGRA, the large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope
KAGRA is a giant L-shaped laser interferometer built underground in Kamioka, Gifu Prefecture, designed to detect gravitational waves from space. The lab is involved in development work such as the design of the interferometer and low-temperature bonding.
*Illustrative imageTOBA, a torsion-bar gravitational wave detector
This detector reads out the rotation of two bars as they are twisted by the tidal force of gravitational waves. Its distinguishing feature is that it can be sensitive to low-frequency bands even on the ground. The lab is currently developing its third unit.
*Illustrative imageA gravitational wave telescope in space
This is the DECIGO project, which aims to build a laser interferometer in space and observe frequency bands that are difficult to target from the ground. The lab takes part in development toward its realization, including the proof-of-principle demonstration of angle control.
*Illustrative imageSearch for axion dark matter
The lab is searching for axions, which are considered a candidate for dark matter. It uses a bow-tie optical ring cavity to try to detect signs of them.
MembersFaculty
The members of Ando Lab consist of faculty members, project researchers, and doctoral and master's students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasaki AndoPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorNaoki AritomiPublications ↗
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Kusaka LabFaculty of Science, Department of PhysicsStudies of the Birth of the Universe and the Nature of Gravi…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “NS binary merger simulation 323” NASA/AEI/ZIB/M. Koppitz and L. Rezzolla / Public domain (cropped)
- KAGRA, the large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope: “In-construction KAGRA gravitational-wave detector” Christopher Berry / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- TOBA, a torsion-bar gravitational wave detector: “Torsion-pendulum1” Andel Früh / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- A gravitational wave telescope in space: “LISA-inspired artwork ESA25446000” European Space Agency / CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (cropped)
- Search for axion dark matter: “Dark matter” United States Department of Energy / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Cannon Lab): “Maya-NR-Simulation-with-Waveform-frame788” Deborah Ferguson ほか、
Georgia Tech MAYA Collaboration / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (Liang Lab): “NuclideMap stitched 2” NuclideMap.PNG: The viewer derivative work: Neokortex (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Cherenkov Cosmic Gamma-ray Lab (CTA Group)): “Roque de los Muchachos - ORM - MAGIC I” H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Kusaka Lab): “Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)” ESA and the Planck Collaboration / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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