1 March 2026
The University of Tokyo Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI)
This April 18 (Sat), the Kavli IPMU and Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) will be co-hosting their 34th hybrid public lecture, "High-energy Universe Observations and Theories - A Look at the Frontier of Gamma Ray Astronomy and Dark Matter Research"
This event is recommended for participants with junior high school level science knowledge/ Admission is free. Online participation has no seating limit, but pre-registration is required.
For more details on this event, visit the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research website.
Event Summary
Time & Date: 1:00PM - 4:00PM, April 18 (Sat), 2026
Venue: Kashiwanoha Conference Center (Kashiwa city) or online
Host: The University of Tokyo Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMUm WPI) and the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR)
Supported by: Kashiwa City Board of Education, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (special support)
Support: Kashiwa City
Difficulty level: Junior high school level
Admission: Free
Seats:
- Onsite venue 400 seats (if registration numbers exceed seat numbers, a lottery will be drawn to select participants)
- No limit for online participants
Register here: Institute for Cosmic Ray Research website
- Deadline for onsite participation: April 12 (Sun)
- Video record of the event will be available to watch until April 30
How to attend: Details about how to attend, and the results of the lottery if carried out, will be sent to those who have completed registration via email.
Contact us:
080-4866-2631 (10AM - 5PM Weekdays) - Institute for Cosmic Ray Research Public Relations
04-7136-5981 / Email: koukai-kouza_at_ipmu.jp (Kavli IPMU Public Relations)
*Note: please change _at_ to ＠
Program
1:00PM〜1:50PM
Lecture 1
Painting a Picture of Blackholes using Ultra High-energy Gamma Rays
Speaker: Naomi Tsuji (ICRR Assistant Professor)
There is visible light that humans can see, and then there is Gamma ray light, which has a shorter wavelength and has much higher energy. By using gamma rays, researchers can uncover the mysteries behind high-energy astronomical phenomena. Recently, everyone has been talking about particle acceleration near blackholes and in jets ejected from blackholes. Gamma ray observation of these phenomena are considered key. In my talk, I will explain blackholes and gamma ray observations in more depth, and give an update on the CTA Large Aperture Telescope, an atmospheric Cherenkov gamma-ray telescope being constructed in the Canary Islands, Spain, led by the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research.
1:50PM〜2:40PM
Lecture 2
The Biggest Unsolved Mystery of the Universe: At the Frontline of Dark Matter Research
Speaker: Shigeki Matsumoto (Kavli IPMU Professor)
Our universe is filled with dark matter. Dark matter's “gravitational presence” has already been seen in observations of galactic rotation curves, the cosmic microwave background, and the large-scale structure of the universe, but unraveling its nature would mean identifying it as a fundamental particle. This makes the subject bigger than anything in particle physics, cosmology, and astronomy. How to find it in nature requires the expertise of researchers in all fields of physics, including condensed matter physics, atomic and nuclear physics, chemistry, and precision measurement. In this talk, I will outline, from a theoretical perspective, the main candidates for dark matter. WIMPs, axions, primordial black holes, and their characteristics. I will explain how underground experiments, accelerators, cosmic ray observations, gravitational waves, and even precision measurements using quantum devices complement each other to approach this “invisible matter,” concluding with future prospects.
3:00PM - 4:00PM
