Yoshitka ITOW

Research Field
"Exploring the Frontiers of Particle Physics and the Universe through Neutrinos and Dark Matter"

　The origin of the universe remains one of the most profound unsolved mysteries in modern science. Why does our universe consist primarily of matter and not antimatter? What is the true nature of dark matter, which shapes the large-scale structure of the universe? To address these fundamental questions, my research focuses on astroparticle physics — an interdisciplinary field bridging particle physics and astronomy.
　At the heart of my research are neutrinos, elusive particles that are exceptionally light, interact only via the weak force, exist only in left-handed state, and three different mass states are completely mixed. Their unique properties suggest they may hold the key to unlocking some of the universe's deepest secrets.
　I have been involved in neutrino physics since the founding of the Super-Kamiokande experiment in 1995, and I am now playing a central role in the construction of Hyper-Kamiokande, the next-generation neutrino observatory. My primary research interest lies in precision measurements of neutrino oscillations. We are searching for evidence of CP-violation in neutrinos, and potential hints of sterile neutrinos through oscillation anomalies, — and rare phenomena such as neutrino signals of dark matter annihilation.
　In parallel, we are exploring dark matter, another essential component in understanding the universe. We are participating the XENONnT experiment, which uses 8.5 tons of liquid xenon to search for dark matter particles. Looking toward the next generation of 60-ton liquid xenon direct dark matter experiment XLZD, I am developing a novel concept of a single-phase liquid xenon detector that incorporates using a quartz vessel to prevent radio-active impurity from entering the fiducial volume.
　Additionally, I have a long standing interested in high-energy hadronic interactions of cosmic rays in the atmosphere, which produce atmospheric neutrinos through extensive air showers. To improve our understanding of these interactions at very high energy, I am leading the LHCf experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which measures particle productions in the very forward region.
　The mysteries of the universe and the properties of fundamental particles are deeply intertwined. Our group seeks to tackle these challenges from a broad, cross-disciplinary perspective. We warmly welcome passionate and curious students from around the world to join us in pioneering new frontiers in astroparticle physics through the study of neutrinos, dark matter and cosmic particles.

Research Center for Cosmic Neutrinos (RCCN)
XENON Experiment　UTokyo Group
Hyper-Kamiokande
Super-Kamiokande