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Kimura Lab
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A lab that explores the environments of planets and icy moons through experiments, numerical models, and observations.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the space environments of planets and icy moons.
The Kimura Lab studies the space around Jupiter and Saturn (magnetospheres and aurorae) and the physics of the surface and interior environments of icy moons.
In recent years, it has also begun studying terrestrial planets (Mars, Venus, and Mercury), their moons, and exoplanets.
Its methods are plasma irradiation experiments, numerical experiments and the development of numerical models, analysis of observational data from spacecraft and telescopes, and data interpretation using artificial intelligence.
Associate Professor Tomoki Kimura, who leads the lab, has taken part in European and American planetary probe missions and in space telescope missions in Japan and abroad, and has also worked on their development and operation.
Key terms
- Icy moon
- Moons of Jupiter and Saturn such as Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus. The lab studies the evolution of their surfaces and subsurface oceans.
- Plasma irradiation experiment
- A method of irradiating a sample with plasma to reproduce in the laboratory the interactions among the magnetospheres, atmospheres, and surfaces of planets and moons.
- Prebiotic materials
- Substances that could become building blocks of life. The lab works on the abiotic synthesis of amino acids, peptides, and proteins.
NewsLab news
A postdoctoral researcher received the Best Presentation Award at a meeting of the Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences
A master's student received the Student Outstanding Presentation Award at the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2025
ResearchResearch themes
The Kimura Lab studies the physics of magnetospheres, atmospheres, and surface environments, targeting Jupiter, Saturn, icy moons, Mars, the Moon, Mercury, exoplanets, and more. Combining plasma irradiation experiments, numerical models, and analysis of observational data from spacecraft and telescopes, it aims to clarify environments relevant to life.
*Illustrative imageHabitable environments of icy moons
The lab simulates, with plasma irradiation experiments, the process by which material erupted from the subsurface oceans of icy moons is altered at the surface. It aims to clarify the evolution and composition of the subsurface oceans and to test the possibility that life could exist.
*Illustrative imagePrebiotic materials on Mars
Using plasma irradiation experiments, the lab reproduces the process by which the Martian atmosphere accumulates on its moons, and the abiotic synthesis of amino acids, peptides, and proteins in the Martian atmosphere. The goal is to clarify the evolution of Mars's oceans and atmosphere and of prebiotic materials.
*Illustrative imageAurorae on exoplanets
The lab develops a numerical model of the process that generates aurorae on exoplanets, along with a method for detecting auroral radio emission with radio telescopes. By capturing the radio waves, it aims to demonstrate that exoplanets have environments for life, such as atmospheres and magnetic fields.
*Illustrative imageWater formation on the Moon and Mercury
The lab simulates, with plasma irradiation experiments, the process by which solar wind hydrogen strikes the Moon and Mercury, which have tenuous atmospheres, and interacts with surface materials to form water. It tests whether this is a significant water source for the ice that accumulates in permanently shadowed regions.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Kimura Lab are faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students in the doctoral program, master's program, and undergraduate program.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorTomoki Kimura
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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: “Aurora australis dancing over an LED illuminated igloo” Ross Burgener / Public domain (cropped)
- Habitable environments of icy moons: “Europa and Enceladus ( )” Lunar and Planetary Institute from Houston, TX, USA / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Prebiotic materials on Mars: “Mars surface map” Wikideas1 / CC0 (cropped)
- Aurorae on exoplanets: “Aurora and perseids” Stephan Sprinz / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Water formation on the Moon and Mercury: “Mercury in color - Prockter07 centered” NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington. Edited version of Image:Mercury in color - Prockter07.jpg by Papa Lima Whiskey. / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (佐藤研究室): “Admire Meteorite End-Cut” Steve Jurvetson / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (山下研究室): “Euglena sp” Deuterostome / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (堺研究室): “Simulation of a cosmological thermal phase transition, early times” DWeir / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (山本研究室): “Carbon nanoribbon povray” Arnero / Public domain (cropped)
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