Aya ISHIHARA Professor

Aya ISHIHARA
Professor

Researchmap

• Chiba University Institute for Advanced Academic Research / International Center for Hadron Astrophysics

• Keywords

  High energy objects, Highest energy cosmic rays, Physics beyond standard model, Atmospheric neutrino models, Neutrino astronomy, Multi-messenger astronomy, Photodetectors, Neutrino detectors

• Professional Memberships

  The Physical Society of Japan, The Astronomical Society of Japan

Research Theme

Neutrino astronomy to reveal high-energy phenomena in the universe

Abstract

Scientists have discovered that the universe produces incredibly high amounts of energy, far more than humans can create.

However, we still don't know exactly how this happens. My research is focused on observing and understanding these high-energy events that occur in the universe.

I'm specifically interested in studying a type of tiny particle called a neutrino (which was responsible for two Nobel prizes awarded to Japanese physicists), as they can travel through the universe without being stopped by other particles.

Neutrinos don't have any electrical charge and don't easily interact with other particles, so they can provide us with important information from very far away.

To observe these high-energy cosmic neutrinos, I use a special telescope called IceCube, located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

This telescope is unique because it uses a cubic kilometer of ice to detect neutrinos. By studying these particles, we can learn more about the high-energy events happening deep in space.