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Terakawa Lab
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The lab uses accelerator beams for cancer treatment and elemental analysis.
AboutAbout the lab
Using accelerator beams for medicine and analysis
The Terakawa Lab conducts research using charged-particle beams from a large cyclotron accelerator.
It works on advancing particle beam therapy, which concentrates the dose on the cancer, and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which treats cancer cells selectively.
The lab also pursues PIXE analysis, which identifies elements from the X-rays emitted when a low-energy proton beam strikes a sample.
In collaboration with researchers in medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, the lab also conducts basic research combining proton therapy with new anticancer drugs.
Key terms
- Particle beam therapy
- A cancer treatment method in which a beam of particles such as protons is directed at the tumor to concentrate the dose on the cancer
- Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)
- A cancer treatment method in which neutrons are directed at boron to selectively destroy cancer cells
- PIXE
- An analytical method that measures the characteristic X-rays emitted when an ion beam strikes a sample, to determine the types and concentrations of the elements it contains
NewsLab news
A master's student received the Encouragement Award at the Student Poster Session of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan 2026 Spring Annual Meeting
A paper by Prof. Terakawa and colleagues was published in International Journal of PIXE
Prof. Terakawa received the “Best Oral Presentation Award” (24th Asia-Oceania Congress of…)
Prof. Terakawa received the “Best Poster Presentation Award” (24th Asia-Oceania Congress of…)
A paper from the lab has been accepted for publication in International Journal of PIXE
ResearchResearch themes
Using charged-particle beams from a large cyclotron accelerator, the lab works on advancing cancer treatment technology and on elemental analysis. It is also preparing to test fundamental symmetries of physics through precision measurements of laser-cooled atoms.
*Illustrative imageAdvancing particle beam therapy and BNCT
The lab studies high-precision irradiation techniques, a two-dimensional real-time beam profile monitor using a micro-pattern gas detector, and three-dimensional dose distribution measurement with polymer gel. For BNCT, it also uses the accelerator-based neutron source at the Aomori Prefectural Quantum Science Center.
*Illustrative imageElemental analysis with PIXE
When an ion beam strikes a material, each element emits characteristic X-rays of a specific energy. By measuring these, elements with an atomic number higher than that of sodium can be analyzed simultaneously with high sensitivity at the ppm level. Scanning with a fine beam also yields two-dimensional distributions of elements.
*Illustrative imageProbing symmetry with francium atoms
Heavy atoms such as francium are highly sensitive for measuring quantities related to violations of fundamental symmetries, such as the electron's permanent electric dipole moment (EDM). The lab is preparing to trap and cool these atoms with lasers and measure them precisely.
MembersFaculty
The Terakawa Lab's members are faculty and students in the master's program and at the undergraduate level.As of 2026
- ProfessorAtsuki Terakawa
- Assistant ProfessorChihiro Iwamoto
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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: “Clinac” No machine-readable author provided. Egg assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5 (cropped)
- Advancing particle beam therapy and BNCT: “Elekta Versa HD linear accelearator at the Gold Coast University Hospital 02” Chris Olszewski / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Elemental analysis with PIXE: “BNL MP tandem Van de Graaff” Peter Thieberger / Public domain (cropped)
- Probing symmetry with francium atoms: “Cloud of ultracold atoms levitated in a magneto-optical trap” Balping / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Matsuyama-Kada Lab): “M-42 radiation detector” DLR / CC BY 3.0 de (cropped)
- Related lab (Watabe Lab): “Cyclotron ARRONAX” Popocatomar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hitomi-Nogami Lab): “Silicon wafer researcher” U.S. Department of Energy / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Iizuka-Ho Lab): “ČBu, wastewater treatment plant 02” Czeva / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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