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High Energy Astrophysics Lab
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The lab uses theory to uncover the high-energy astrophysical phenomena that give rise to cosmic rays.
AboutAbout the lab
Where are particles that fly around at the speed of light born?
The High Energy Astrophysics Lab mainly uses theoretical methods to tackle the mysteries of the high-energy astrophysical phenomena that are the origin of cosmic ray particles.
The universe contains relativistic particles that fly around at nearly the speed of light.
These particles are thought to be produced in explosive high-energy astrophysical phenomena, but the details are still unknown.
From the perspectives of electromagnetic waves, cosmic rays, neutrinos, and gravitational waves, the lab studies jet formation, particle acceleration, and radiation processes.
Key terms
- Cosmic rays
- High-energy particles, such as protons and atomic nuclei, that rain down on Earth from space
- Relativistic jets
- Streams of plasma squeezed into a narrow beam and ejected at close to the speed of light from objects such as black holes
- Gamma-ray bursts
- The largest explosive phenomena in the universe, thought to occur when a massive star ends its life and its core collapses into a black hole
ResearchResearch themes
Supernova explosions, pulsars, giant flares of magnetars, jets blasting out of black holes at the centers of galaxies, and gamma-ray bursts are specific sites of high-energy astrophysical phenomena. The lab studies the physical mechanisms in these objects: jet formation, the acceleration of relativistic particles, and the radiation of photons and neutrinos from them.
*Illustrative imageParticle Acceleration
Electrons accelerated to nearly the speed of light emit electromagnetic waves through processes such as synchrotron radiation, while protons and atomic nuclei emit gamma rays and high-energy neutrinos. The shock waves that expand after a supernova explosion are thought to be where this acceleration takes place.
*Illustrative imageRelativistic Outflows
Jets, which are narrowly collimated streams of plasma, blast out from the supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies. The mechanisms by which such relativistic jets are produced and accelerated remain unsolved, and the acceleration mechanism of the winds blowing out of pulsars is also not understood.
MembersFaculty
The members of the High Energy Astrophysics Lab are faculty members, project researchers, and doctoral and master's students.As of 2026
- ProfessorKatsuaki AsanoPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorJiro Shimoda
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Bamba LabFaculty of Science, Department of PhysicsStudy of high-energy cosmic phenomena using X-rays/gamma ray…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: “M87 jet” NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) / Public domain (cropped)
- Particle Acceleration: “Cassiopeia A Spitzer” NASA/JPL-Caltech/O. Krause (Steward Observatory) / Public domain (cropped)
- Relativistic Outflows: “X-ray and infrared composite of the Crab Nebula (SVS15041 - timelapse crab nebula)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
（Chandra・ Webb） / Public domain (cropped) - Related lab (Liang Lab): “NuclideMap stitched 2” NuclideMap.PNG: The viewer derivative work: Neokortex (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Sako Lab): “Cosmic Ray Station ( )” Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Yamaguchi (Hiro) Lab): “Tycho-supernova-xray” NASA/CXC
（Smithsonian Institution 経由） / Public domain (cropped) - Related lab (Bamba Lab): “Supernova Remnant SN 1006” X-ray: NASA/CXC/Rutgers/G.Cassam-Chenaï, J.Hughes et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF/GBT/VLA/Dyer, Maddalena & Cornwell; Optical: Middlebury College/F.Winkler, NOAO/AURA/NSF/CTIO Schmidt & DSS / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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