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Cherenkov Cosmic Gamma-ray Lab (CTA Group)
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A lab that captures the violent universe through ultra-high-energy gamma rays.
AboutAbout the lab
Viewing the universe in its highest-energy light
The lab observes the universe in the highest-energy band of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Gamma rays arrive from violent astronomical objects such as supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and gamma-ray bursts.
Using ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, the lab detects the Cherenkov light produced when gamma rays enter the atmosphere.
The lab takes part in international projects for CTAO, the next-generation gamma-ray observatory, and for the currently operating MAGIC telescopes.
Key terms
- Gamma rays
- The highest-energy form of electromagnetic radiation. It is emitted by violent astronomical phenomena.
- Cherenkov light
- Light emitted when a fast-moving charged particle travels through the atmosphere. The emissions overlap to form a brief flash.
- Dark matter
- An unidentified form of matter that fills the universe but cannot be seen with light.
NewsLab news
A JSPS Research Fellow received the Young Scientist Award of the Physical Society of Japan
A doctoral student and a master's student received Outstanding Student Presentation Awards from the Physical Society of Japan
A researcher received the Werner Hofmann Scientific Award
A doctoral student received the Director's Award at the research presentation meeting of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research
A doctoral student received an Outstanding Student Presentation Award at the Annual Meeting of the Physical Society of Japan
ResearchResearch themes
The lab participates in TeV gamma-ray observation projects using imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (CTAO and MAGIC) and observes gamma-ray sources. By adding multiwavelength observations using satellites and other instruments, it aims to elucidate high-energy physical phenomena.
*Illustrative imageObserving High-Energy Astronomical Objects
The lab's observation targets are high-energy objects such as supernova remnants, pulsars and pulsar wind nebulae, active galactic nuclei (supermassive black holes), and gamma-ray bursts.
*Illustrative imageParticle Acceleration and the Origin of Cosmic Rays
The lab investigates how particles are accelerated in high-energy objects and how gamma rays are emitted. This also connects to the question of where cosmic rays originate.
*Illustrative imageHistory of Star and Galaxy Formation
Part of the gamma rays arriving from distant sources is absorbed along the way. From this absorption, the lab measures the energy density of the optical and infrared extragalactic background light, and studies how stars and galaxies have formed in the universe.
*Illustrative imageSearch for Dark Matter
Gamma rays are also thought to be emitted when dark matter particles annihilate with each other. The lab observes the Galactic center and nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies to search for traces of this.
MembersFaculty
The members of the lab consist of faculty members, researchers, specialist staff, master's students, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorHidetoshi KuboPublications ↗
- Project ProfessorDaniel Mazin
- Associate ProfessorTakayuki SaitoPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorAkira OkumuraPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorIevgen VovkPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorSeiya NozakiPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorMichiko OhishiPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorNaomi Tsuji
- Project Assistant ProfessorMarcel StrzysPublications ↗
- Project Assistant ProfessorMitsunari Takahashi
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “Roque de los Muchachos - ORM - MAGIC I” H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Observing High-Energy Astronomical Objects: “The Crab Nebula (weic2326a)” NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, T. Temim (Princeton University) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Particle Acceleration and the Origin of Cosmic Rays: “Vela supernova - VST - Eso2214a” ESO/TIMER survey / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- History of Star and Galaxy Formation: “Hubble ultra deep field” NASA and the European Space Agency / Public domain (cropped)
- Search for Dark Matter: “Center of the Milky Way Galaxy IV – Composite” NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/CXC/STScI / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Liang Lab): “NuclideMap stitched 2” NuclideMap.PNG: The viewer derivative work: Neokortex (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Ando Lab): “NS binary merger simulation 323” NASA/AEI/ZIB/M. Koppitz and L. Rezzolla / 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)
- Related lab (Cannon Lab): “Maya-NR-Simulation-with-Waveform-frame788” Deborah Ferguson ほか、
Georgia Tech MAYA Collaboration / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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