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

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.

JST FOREST project on black hole physics probed by magnetic fields near the event horizon has started

The research period of our JST FOREST project has begun.

Paper on neutrino production sites in blazar jets (Xue et al.) accepted by ApJ

Our study locating where high-energy neutrinos are produced in blazar jets has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

Press release: Particle acceleration by shocks around supermassive black holes

Shibaura Institute of Technology issued a press release on our simulation study revealing efficient proton acceleration by shocks in black hole coronae, a new clue to the origin of high-energy neutrinos (Ly et al.).

Recent Publications
  • 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. ADS / 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. ADS / arXiv / DOI
  • Xue, R., Inoue, Y., Wang, Z., Liao, N., Xiong, D. (2026). Locating the Production Sites of High-Energy Neutrinos in Blazar Jets. arXiv e-prints, arXiv:2606.02024. ADS / 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. ADS / arXiv / DOI
  • Ly, M. N., Inoue, Y., Sentoku, Y., Sano, T. (2026). Proton Acceleration by Collisionless Shocks in Supermassive Black Hole Coronae: Implications for High-energy Neutrinos. The Astrophysical Journal 1004, 27. ADS / 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.