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Kasahara Lab
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The lab builds instruments for space probes to measure plasma in space in situ.
AboutAbout the lab
Seeing the truth of the universe with instruments of our own.
The Kasahara Lab develops particle detectors to be mounted on space probes and analyzes the observational data obtained with those instruments.
The questions the lab wants to answer are wide-ranging, including the formation and evolution of the solar system, water on the Moon, the physics of auroras, the tails of comets, and the clouds of radiation surrounding planets.
The lab takes part as a key player in missions such as JAXA's Arase geospace exploration satellite, the Comet Interceptor comet exploration mission, and a lunar polar exploration mission.
There is a great deal of freedom in instrument development, and students can lead their own research.
Key terms
- Plasma
- A state in which the atoms of a gas are separated into ions and electrons. Space is filled with it.
- Radiation belt
- A region near the Earth where extremely high-energy particles are trapped.
- Mass spectrometer
- An instrument that measures the mass of particles to determine which substances are present and in what amounts.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to develop particle detectors to be mounted on space probes, use those instruments to observe targets of each student's own interest, and deepen understanding from the world-first data obtained. Its work falls broadly into two areas: electromagnetism, set in the magnetospheres around planets, and planetary science, including the history of the solar system.
*Illustrative imagePlasma in Planetary Magnetospheres
Near the Earth lie the radiation belts, where extremely high-energy plasma is trapped, and the mechanisms by which this plasma is lost and generated have long been a mystery. The lab designs and develops instruments for space probes and rockets that observe plasma in situ, and analyzes the resulting data.
*Illustrative imageExploration of Terrestrial Planets and Small Bodies
In situ particle observation is a means of getting closer to the origin and evolution of planets and small bodies. The lab is developing a mass spectrometer to be carried on a rover at the lunar poles to detect trace amounts of water, as well as an ion mass spectrometer for the Comet Interceptor comet exploration mission.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Kasahara Lab consist of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students.As of 2025
- Associate ProfessorSatoshi KasaharaPublications ↗
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RelatedLabs similar to Kasahara Lab
Sugita-Kasahara-Morota Lab (Planetary Exploration Research Group)Faculty of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary PhysicsPlanetary exploration, comparative planetology, and space an…
Yoshikawa-Yoshioka LabFaculty of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary PhysicsDevelopment of observation instruments for planetary probes …
Saito-Shinohara Lab (Space Plasma Division)Faculty of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary PhysicsPlanetary magnetospheric physics, space plasma physics, magn…Seki LabFaculty of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary PhysicsSolar-planetary system physics, electromagnetosphere physics…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: “Aurora Australis From ISS” ISS Expedition 23 crew / Public domain (cropped)
- Plasma in Planetary Magnetospheres: “Rendering of Van Allen radiation belts of Earth 2” JHUAPL, NASA
（cmglee に よる 色の 付け直し） / Public domain (cropped) - Exploration of Terrestrial Planets and Small Bodies: “Comet 67P on 19 September 2014 NavCam mosaic” ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM / CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (cropped)
- Related lab (Sugita-Kasahara-Morota Lab (Planetary Exploration Research Group)): “Ryugu - RGB False Color - July )” Kevin Gill from Los Angeles, CA, United States / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Yoshikawa-Yoshioka Lab): “Hisaki-sprint-a-artistconcept2013” Nesnad / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Saito-Shinohara Lab (Space Plasma Division)): “Aurora borealis over Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska” United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Seki Lab): “Aurora Australis From ISS” ISS Expedition 23 crew / Public domain (cropped)
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