Preface
Our research group at the University of Tsukuba conducts a wide range of research in astrophysics and computational science. In astrophysics, our studies cover galaxy formation and evolution, structure formation influenced by dark matter, galaxy collisions, supermassive black hole activity, and the physical properties of galactic winds. Recently, we have also been exploring habitable zones within galaxies. While many of our research topics employ numerical simulations, we also engage in analytical research using theoretical models and observational data analysis.
Furthermore, we frequently collaborate with observational researchers, actively promoting integrated studies that combine theory and observation. In the field of computational science, our research includes the development of high-precision hydrodynamic schemes, the creation of massively parallel computation algorithms, and the development of computation acceleration algorithms utilizing GPUs. More recently, we have also applied machine learning techniques to astrophysical research.
Our research team actively welcomes undergraduate students for graduation research projects. Moreover, we offer early-stage research guidance to highly motivated students with a strong interest in astrophysics, regardless of their academic year. If you are eager to engage in research, we encourage you to get in touch with us.
At the University of Tsukuba, graduate school entrance examinations are held three times a year: a recommendation-based exam in July, and general entrance exams in August and February. We attract many applicants from other universities. In the Master's Programme, students develop foundational expertise and technical skills essential for research. In the Doctoral Programme, they cultivate the ability to conduct independent, high-level research. We also provide extensive support for students to present at international conferences and participate in short-term research stays at leading overseas institutions.
For doctoral students, we are particularly committed to fostering research excellence and expanding career opportunities through initiatives such as the University of Tsukuba Dual Degree Programme, student support projects, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship. To date, six students have earned their Ph.D. degrees from our group. Among them, three have secured faculty positions at universities in Japan and abroad, two continue their research as postdoctoral fellows, and one has pursued a career in industry, applying their expertise at the forefront of technological innovation.
If you are interested in our research and activities, we warmly invite you to visit our laboratory. Online meetings can also be arranged. Please feel free to contact us via email—we look forward to hearing from you!
Masao Mori, University of Tsukuba
Research
My research activites so far
'How did the cosmos we live in begin, and how did it come to be what it is today?' This fundamental question has been pondered since the dawn of human history. Cosmology and astrophysics are the fields that study these questions from the standpoint of physics. The theory published by George Gamow in 1948 became the paradigm for discussing the origin of the universe and has been the focus of various empirical observations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. It is believed that our universe was born 13.8 billion years ago in a hot, dense state (the Big Bang), and that the birth and evolution of various celestial bodies in the expanding universe led to the formation of the cosmos as we know it today.
The core of my research group's activities is to draw a detailed picture, from a natural scientific standpoint, of how galaxies have evolved over time and what the future holds for them.
Activities
What's new
We keep you updated on all the latest news, including research progress, new projects, published papers, conference talks, awards, and media mentions. Additionally, we share information about social gatherings, extracurricular activities, and events that help team members bond and recharge.
| Feb. 14, 2025 | The master's thesis defences of Misa Yamaguchi and Takuhiro Yuasa have been successfully completed.
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| Feb. 7, 2025 | A student from our team has produced the third instalment in our recent research series: "Is the Cold Dark Matter Hypothesis Correct?: Dark Matter Halo Detection via Stellar Stream Traces"(in Japanese).
According to the leading candidate for dark matter, the cold dark matter hypothesis, a vast number of dwarf galaxy-sized dark matter haloes devoid of stars are predicted to surround massive galaxies such as the Milky Way and Andromeda. However, these dark satellites remain undiscovered.
In this study, they propose a new method to detect these invisible dark matter haloes by utilising distinctive features in stellar streams.
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| Feb. 5, 2025 | The graduation research presentations by Kanta Aimoto, Michi Shinozaki, Akifumi Takayama, and Ryuoh Fujinomaki have been successfully completed.
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| Feb. 4, 2025 | A student from our team has produced the third instalment in our recent research series: "Galaxy Collision and Evolution: Dark Matter and the Tears of Andromeda"(in Japanese).
In the neighbouring Andromeda Galaxy - right beside our Milky Way - an ongoing galactic collision is taking place. Countless stellar remnants, scattered by the impact, have formed a vast stream of light known as the "Tears of Andromeda."
Recent findings suggest that dark matter plays a crucial role in the formation of these "Tears of Andromeda."
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| Jan. 27, 2025 | One of our team's students has produced the third instalment in our recent research series: "Frontline Research: Can Stars Form Between Galaxies? - The Formation of Dwarf Galaxies and Young Star Clusters in the M81 Galaxy Group"(in Japanese).
Beyond Ursa Major, approximately 12 million light-years away in the depths of space, lies a group of spiral galaxies. Within the space between them, dazzling clusters of young stars have been discovered. Were they once torn from a nearby spiral galaxy, or did they emerge from the darkness between galaxies? We explore this long-standing mystery.
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About me
Who I am
Masao Mori
Associate Professor, Ph.D.
- Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba
- Master's/Doctor's Program in Physics, University of Tsukuba
- Degree Programs in Education, The College of Education, University of Tsukuba
- Visiting Associate Professor at University of California,Los Angeles (Feb. 2005 - Mar. 2006)
- Visiting Researcher at Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy (Aug. 1998 - Aug. 1999)
Our Team
Group members for this year and graduates
Below, you will find information about my current team members and graduates.
Current Members
| Yuka Kaneda | 2nd-year Ph.D. student | JSPS Research Fellow (DC1), Dual Degree Programme |
| Challenges in the Cold Dark Matter Hypothesis | ||
| Misa Yamaguchi | 2nd-year Master's | Galaxy Collisions and the Spatiotemporal Evolution of the Galactic Habitable Zone |
| Takuhiro Yuasa | 2nd-year Master's | Development of High-Performance Hydrodynamics Computational Schemes |
| Taisei Takeuchi | 1st-year Master's | Star Cluster Formation and Dark Matter in the M81 Galaxy Group |
| Kotaro Hiraki | 1st-year Master's | Particle Simulation and Visualization |
| Kanta Aimoto | 4th-year Undergrad | Hydrodynamic Interactions in Collisions Between Satellite Galaxies and Galactic Disks |
| Michi Shinozaki | 4th-year Undergrad | Critical Conditions for the Cusp-Core Transition of Dark Matter Halos |
| Akifumi Takayama | 4th-year Undergrad | Supermassive Black Hole Activity and Galaxy Collisions |
| Ryuoh Fujinomaki | 4th-year Undergrad | Analysis of Numerical Integration Accuracy Using Keplerian Motion |
Achievements
See a summary of my research achievements
Below is a list of my recent research papers, selected papers to date, and received research funding.
Recent publications
- "Simultaneous Formation of the Andromeda Giant Southern Stream and Eastern Extent", Yamaguchi, Misa; Mori, Masaoi; Kirihara, Takanobu; Miki, Yohei; Ogami, itsuki; Chiba, Masashi; Komiyama, Yutaka; Tanaka, Mikito, submitted.
- "Splitting a Stellar Stream, Bridging Luminous and Dark Domains", Kaneda, Yuka; Mori, Masao; Miki, Yohei; Kirihara, Takanobu; Burkert, Andreas, submitted.
- "Novel Individual Timestep Integrator with Symplectic Property using Hamiltonian Splitting for SPH", Yuasa, Takuhiro; Mori, Masao; Miki, Yohei, submitted to Astrophysical Journal.
- "Accelerated Hermite integrator for orbital integration with OpenACC", Otaki, Koki; Mori, Masao; Miki, Yohei; Takahashi, Daisuke, submitted to Computer Physics Communications.
Lectures
Lectures for this academic year
FY2024
- Undergraduate Programs
- Introduction to modern physics: Spring AB, Mon. (Interdisciplinary Lecture Series: 6/10)
- General concept of astrophysics: Fall AB, Fri. 4
- Diploma thesis research advice
- Postgraduate Programmes
- Fundamental Physics 2: Fall AB, Mon. 3
- Special Research in Astrophysics
- Astrophycs Seminar
- Master thesis advice
- Doctor thesis advice
- Seminar
- Galaxy Seminar
- Mori's group Seminar
Contact
Feel free to contact
Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan +81 (0)29 853 6034