ISAS/JAXA Director General Hitoshi Kuninaka visits Kavli IPMU

March 2, 2023

Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)

On February 16, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS/JAXA) Director General Hitoshi Kuninaka visited the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU).

Kavli IPMU Director Hirosi Ooguri welcomed Kuninaka and other ISAS/JAXA guests, and gave an introduction to the institute. Following an introduction from Kuninaka, the director general engaged in discussion with Kavli IPMU researchers about the LiteBIRD satellite, which aims to find a footprint of primordial gravitational waves left in the cosmic microwave background. ISAS/JAXA Professor Tadayasu Dotani talked about the overall situation of LiteBIRD, while Kavli IPMU Associate Professor Tomotake Matsumura talked about the low frequency telescope polarization modulator. Kavli IPMU Project Associate Professor and Center for Data-Driven Discovery Director Jia Liu also introduced the newly-established center to the guests.

Finally, Kavli IPMU Deputy Director Tomiyoshi Haruyama gave Kuninaka a tour of the institute, including the Piazza Fujiawara area on the third floor, and the laboratories used to develop parts of LiteBIRD.

Kuninaka was accompanied by Associate Director General Hiroshi Fukai, Program Director of Space Science Eiichi Sato, ISAS/JAXA Program Office Director Shiro Ueno, Professor Tadayasu Dotani, Professor Yutaro Sekimoto, Management & Integration Department Manager Yusuke Kamochi, and Management & Integration Department officer Takahiro Ueda.

Group photo: (from front left) Deputy Director Tomiyoshi Haruyama, Director Hirosi Ooguri, ISAS/JAXA Director General Hitoshi Kuninaka, ISAS/JAXA Professor Tadayasu Dotani. (From back left) University of Tokyo Institute for Photon Science and Technology Associate Professor Kuniaki Konishi, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences Professor Hiroyuki Ohsaki, Associate Professor Tomotake Matsumura, Deputy Director Misao Sasaki, Project Associate Professor Jia Liu, Program Director of Space Science Eiichi Sato, JAXA Associate Director General Hiroshi Fukai, ISAS/JAXA Professor Yutaro Sekimoto, ISAS/JAXA Program Office Director Shiro Ueno, ISAS/JAXA Management & Integration Department Manager Yusuke Kamochi, and ISAS/JAXA Management & Integration Department officer Takahiro Ueda. (Credit: Kavli IPMU)
Discussion with ISAS/JAXA Director General Hitoshi Kuninaka. (Credit: Kavli IPMU)
Director Hirosi Ooguri explains the world map showing all of the home countries of past and present Kavli IPMU researchers. (Credit: Kavli IPMU)
Associate Professor Tomotake Matsumura explains the LiteBIRD LFT polarization modulator and how the rotating half-wavelength plate with superconducting magnetic bearings works. (Credit: Kavli IPMU)