High-Energy Astrophysics Lab

From the extreme environments around black holes to the radiation environment on the lunar surface — we tackle the mysteries of the high-energy universe through theory and multi-messenger observations (X-rays, MeV gamma rays, radio, neutrinos, and gravitational waves).
Credit: RIKEN

Research

From fundamental astrophysics to applied radiation science.

01 — FUNDAMENTAL

Fundamental Astrophysics

Uncovering the physics of the high-energy universe — black holes and MeV gamma rays — through theory and multi-messenger observations.

Black Hole Astrophysics

Magnetic field measurements and origin of AGN coronae, jet launching, accretion physics, and extreme physics near the event horizon.

AGN coronae X-ray polarimetry ALMA +1 more

High-Energy Astrophysics (MeV)

Pioneering MeV gamma-ray astronomy and multi-messenger studies.

GRAMS neutrinos blazars
02 — APPLIED

Applied High-Energy and Radiation Studies

Applying our expertise in high-energy astrophysics to real-world radiation challenges of the space age.

Lunar Radiation Environment

Understanding and forecasting the cosmic-ray and radiation environment on the lunar surface for the era of human lunar activity.

cosmic rays solar energetic particles Artemis

News

Paper on parsec-scale X-ray jets in the PeVatron microquasar V4641 Sgr (Tsuji et al.) accepted by ApJL

XMM-Newton reveals, for the first time, X-ray jet structures extending over tens of parsecs from V4641 Sgr.

New members: five undergraduate students join the lab

Yoshiya Hosono, Tokio Kondo, Daichi Moroka, Kazunori Murotani, and Umi Yanuma have joined the lab as third-year undergraduate students.

Paper on disk truncation triggering jet launching in a highly accreting supermassive black hole (Noda et al.) accepted by ApJL

Coordinated XRISM and VLBI observations of the radio galaxy 3C 120 link jet launching to a hot inner flow inside a truncated accretion disk.

Project on an AI-surrogate digital twin of the lunar radiation environment selected for SPReAD

Selected in the second call of MEXT's AI for Science Pioneering Research Creation Project (SPReAD).

New member: Chikako Ichikawa joins as Administrative Assistant

Chikako Ichikawa has joined the lab as our administrative assistant.

Recent Publications
  • Xue, R., Inoue, Y., Wang, Z., Liao, N., Xiong, D. (2026). Locating the Production Sites of High-energy Neutrinos in Blazar Jets. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 286, 20. SciX / arXiv / DOI
  • Noda, H., Hada, K., Maruyama, H., Kayanoki, T., Toma, K., et al. (2026). Disk truncation triggers relativistic jet launching of a highly accreting supermassive black hole. arXiv e-prints, arXiv:2609.27057. SciX
  • Sakai, N., Inoue, Y., Owen, E. R. (2026). Revisiting Disk Winds in Active Galactic Nuclei as an Origin of Cosmic Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Backgrounds. The Astrophysical Journal 1006, 162. SciX / arXiv / DOI
  • Kawamuro, T., Yamada, S., Noda, H., Inoue, Y., Ogawa, S., et al. (2026). XRISM Time-resolved Fe Kα Spectroscopy of NGC 4395: Time-variable Inner-disk Emission. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 1005, L62. SciX / arXiv / DOI
  • Komugi, S., Saito, T., Michiyama, T., Inoue, Y., Nakanishi, K., et al. (2026). An Active Galactic Nucleus in the Antennae Galaxies?. The Astrophysical Journal 1004, 126. SciX / arXiv / DOI

All publications →

Join Us

We are recruiting graduate students (MSc/PhD), postdocs, and undergraduates. Black holes, gamma rays, neutrinos, or the Moon — if any of these excites you, get in touch.