Wataru IWAKIRI Assistant Professor

Wataru IWAKIRI
Assistant Professor

Researchmap

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

• Keywords

  Multi-messenger Astronomy, Time Domain Astronomy, MAXI, NICER, Astrophysics, X-ray Observatory, CubeSat

• Professional Memberships

  The Astronomical Society of Japan, The Physical Society of Japan

Research Theme

Pioneering Multi-messenger Astronomy Based on Cosmic X-ray Observations

Abstract

X-ray astronomy is an ideal technique to probe the extreme environments of space because of its sensitivity to plasma that has been heated to many millions of degrees due to the massive gravity of black holes or neutron stars, as well as the radiation from electrons that accelerate almost to the speed of light.

Cosmic X-ray observation uses measurement devices loaded in satellites, so Japan's all-sky X-ray monitor MAXI and NASA's X-ray telescope NICER at the International Space Station are less affected by the weather or local conditions than ground-based observatories.

It is well-suited to discover and continuously observe crucial and unexpected phenomena, such as stellar flares, X-ray bursts from neutron stars, and neutron star mergers.

Moreover, beyond electromagnetic observations alone - through the pioneering of multi-messenger astronomy that incorporates neutrino observations by the IceCube project at the south pole - we seek to elucidate the current mysteries that remained in astrophysics, such as how, when, and under what extreme conditions the most powerful particle acceleration in the universe is taking place.