Research Overview

Our universe is filled with high-energy charged particles known as cosmic rays. The most energetic of these particles can travel at speeds up to 99.9999999999% of the speed of light. However, the astrophysical sources and generation mechanisms of such ultra-high-energy cosmic rays remain largely unknown. It is believed that these particles are produced in extreme plasma environments, such as those surrounding black holes. Therefore, uncovering their origins and formation processes offers a unique opportunity to explore physical phenomena under extreme conditions.

Because cosmic rays are charged particles, their trajectories are bent by interstellar magnetic fields, making it difficult to trace them back to their sources through direct observation. However, cosmic rays can interact with surrounding matter and emit neutrinos—uncharged elementary particles that travel in straight lines without being affected by magnetic fields. By detecting these neutrino signals, we can potentially identify the sources of cosmic rays. This approach, which combines traditional electromagnetic observations with neutrino detections, is known as "multi-messenger astronomy."

My research focuses on predicting the neutrino and electromagnetic signals emitted by various candidate sources of cosmic rays and comparing these predictions with observational data to explore their origins. Additionally, I study the processes by which cosmic rays are generated in extreme plasma conditions, such as those near black holes, using numerical simulations. By refining theoretical models through these simulations and theoretical predictions, and comparing them with the growing wealth of observational data expected in the near future, I aim to shed light on the origin and generation mechanisms of high-energy particles from the mysterious universe.