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Nakamura Lab
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The lab explores the mysteries of matter and the universe through experiments with unstable atomic nuclei.
AboutAbout the lab
From unstable nuclei to the mysteries of matter and the universe.
Nakamura Lab studies new quantum phenomena of atomic nuclei using short-lived nuclei that do not exist in nature (unstable nuclei).
In particular, it uses reactions of neutron-rich nuclei, which have a very large number of neutrons, to explore the mysteries of matter and the evolution of the universe.
Experiments are carried out jointly with research groups in Japan and abroad, mainly at the RI Beam Factory at RIKEN in Wako, Saitama Prefecture.
The lab is in charge of developing the neutron detector NEBULA, which is used with the SAMURAI experimental apparatus at this facility.
Key terms
- Unstable nuclei
- Unstable nuclei: short-lived atomic nuclei that do not exist in nature and decay quickly. They are produced using accelerators.
- Neutron halo nuclei
- Neutron halo nuclei: atomic nuclei in which neutrons form a thin, wide cloud around a central core.
- Magic numbers
- Magic numbers: special numbers of protons or neutrons at which an atomic nucleus becomes especially stable.
- Equation of state
- Equation of state: the relationship that describes how the pressure and energy of matter change with density.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab investigates new quantum phenomena of atomic nuclei using reactions of unstable nuclei, which do not exist in nature, especially neutron-rich nuclei with many neutrons. Making use of the RI Beam Factory at RIKEN, it studies neutron halo nuclei, shell structure, nuclear reactions in astrophysics, and nuclear matter in neutron stars.
*Illustrative imageNeutron Halo Nuclei
Some nuclei with a very large number of neutrons have a "halo," in which neutrons form a thin cloud around a core. The lab has discovered new halo nuclei heavier than those known before and is studying their structure.
*Illustrative imageChanges in Nuclear Shell Structure
Nuclei are especially stable when the number of protons or neutrons takes certain values (magic numbers). It has become clear that these magic numbers change in neutron-rich nuclei, and the lab has also shown that a magic number disappears.
*Illustrative imageNuclear Reactions in Astrophysics
Elements heavier than iron are thought to have been produced mainly through reactions in which nuclei capture neutrons (neutron capture reactions). The lab studied this process in light neutron-rich nuclei and pointed out that, in weakly bound nuclei, a type of capture different from the usual one is important.
*Illustrative imageNuclear Matter in Neutron Stars
The equation of state of nuclear matter, which determines properties such as the radius of neutron stars, is still not known. The lab is trying to determine it through experiments such as making the surface of neutron-rich nuclei (the neutron skin) oscillate.
MembersFaculty
Members of Nakamura Lab include faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and administrative staff.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakashi NakamuraPublications ↗
- Project Associate ProfessorYoshiteru Sato
- Assistant ProfessorShutaro Hanai
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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: “RIKEN Superconducting Ring Cyclotron P4213478” Kestrel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Neutron Halo Nuclei: “RIKEN BigRIPS P4213487” Kestrel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Changes in Nuclear Shell Structure: “Nuclear Physicists Wield HPC to Uncover Magic Isotopes” OLCF / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Nuclear Reactions in Astrophysics: “Crab Nebula” NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University) / Public domain (cropped)
- Nuclear Matter in Neutron Stars: “Neutron Star X-ray beaming with accretion disk” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (高峰研究室): “NuclideMap stitched 2” NuclideMap.PNG: The viewer derivative work: Neokortex (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (関澤研究室): “Crab Nebula” NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (藤岡研究室): “J-PARC Hadron Experimental Facility 1” Kestrel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (慈道研究室): “Quantum Fluctuations” Derek Leinweber / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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