Akihiro Hashizume
Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science

Research Overview 

I am a member of an experimental nuclear physics lab, researching neutron-rich nuclei through gamma-ray spectroscopy. We know that elements up to iron in our universe are formed by nuclear reactions within stars. But the exact pathways that create heavier elements, like gold and silver, are still a mystery. The key to unlocking these synthesis processes lies in neutron-rich nuclei, which have significantly more neutrons than protons. To understand their nuclear structure, I measure the gamma rays, beta rays, and neutrons that these nuclei emit as they decay. My group actively carries out experiments at major research centers like RIKEN and RCNP in Japan, and at TRIUMF in Canada.