RCNP provides a unique opportunity for research and education for nuclear physics. The facilities are used for the worldwide collaborations to perform the physics of the subatomic world, the typical length scale is 10 to the minus 15th meter.

The nucleus forms the core of matter, and is composed of protons and neutrons (nucleons). It shows variety of interesting properties. The nucleons are further composed of quarks, whose law is governed by the quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Today we know how quarks behave at the length scale about hundred times smaller than the size of the nucleon. The Nobel prize of 2004 was awarded to the discovery of the law of quarks in such a short length scale. However, it is curious that we do not know well how quarks form nucleons and nuclei at the larger length scale of nuclei. The major reason is that we do not know the mechanism of the strong interaction such as quark confinement.

RCNP, researchers are attacking the problems using large experimental facilities and a supercomputer. The results are then used to the understanding not only of the basic questions of nuclear physics but also of the nuclear synthesis and matter formation in the early universe. They are also useful for applications to such as radiation damage of semiconductors and the production of radiation matter for the medical use.

・ The Ring-cyclotron accelerates the proton up to the energy of 400 mega-electronvolts. Using this beam we examine the nucleus with the resolution of half nucleon in size. Using the high quality beam and the detector system of the highest resolution in the world enable us to accumulate the knowledge of nuclear reactions and structures.
・ Laser electron photon facility at the SPring-8 produces the photon beam of two giga-electronvolts which enables us to look at quarks inside the nucleon with the resolution of 1/10 of the nucleon in size. Highly polarized photon beam and the detector system for the three-dimensional analysis produces unique data for hadron spectroscopy.
・ At the Oto cosmo-observatory, under the environment of low background of such as electromagnetic wave and various radiations, very rare nuclear events are observed.
・ In theoretical researches, analytic methods and the use of the supercomputer solve the problems of nuclear-particle physics. Experimental data are used for further understanding of physics.