Purpose of Foundation

In the 20th century, space exploration has advanced vigorously with the support of the development of fundamental science and advanced technologies. In the 21th century, the age of the universe was discovered to be about 13.7 billion years, and the exploration of space gained momentum. Meanwhile, it is indicated that our universe is controlled by unknown dark matter, accelerated and expanded by dark energy. The more we explore, the more we find that the universe is full of mysteries. Although there are many research methods for deepening our understanding of the universe, there is no doubt that studying the evolving universe thoroughly with a basic stance is essential. Our research center was established to contribute to the world in the space exploration field by focusing and comprehensively researching "cosmic evolution". Ehime University has already achieved substantial research results known globally in themes such as galaxies, dark matter, large‐scale structures of the cosmos, supermassive black holes at galactic nuclei, and cosmic plasmas. Therefore, we can bring about great developments by further promoting these studies, and organically linking them to develop new studies. For this purpose, we organized our research system into the following three divisions:

1. Research Division of Cosmic Large-scale Structure
2. Research Division of Black Hole Evolution
3. Research Division of Space Plasma Environment

With the foundation of our center, Ehime University is considering organizing a space course, which allows the systematic study of astrophysics in the Faculty of Science. Few universities have this kind of space course in Japan. As a university that teaches astrophysics with the foundation of our center, Ehime University is expected to play a great role not only in Shikoku but also in western Japan. With the foundation of Research Center for Space and Cosmic Evolution, which intends to form a global base of space and cosmic evolution study, we aim to contribute to the development of education and research in Ehime University.

Research Achievements

Below are the links to our center members in researcher directory of Ehime University.
Please see the research achievements in the links.

Research Division of Cosmic Large-scale Structure

NAGAO Tohru
KAJISAWA Masaru
MATSUOKA Yoshiki

Research Division of Black Hole Evolution

AWAKI Hisamitsu
TERASHIMA Yuichi
SHIDATSU Megumi

Research Division of Space Plasma Environment

SHIMIZU Tohru
KONDOH Koji

Visiting Researcher (Japanese syllabary order)

IWASAWA Kazushi　(Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA))
TOBA Yoshiki　(Kyoto University)
FUJITA Yutaka　（Osaka University）
YAMASHITA Takuji　(National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)
WADA Keiichi　(Kagoshima University)

Subaru, Hyper Spurime Cam (HSC)

We are now promoting a new extensive survey for "quasars" that are powered by supermassive black holes (SMBHs), in order to understand the physics of the formation and evolution of SMBHs. This survey is utilizing the new wide-field camera boarded on the Subaru Telescope, Hyper Suprime Cam (HSC), that is extremely powerful for searching rare and faint objects thanks to the super-wide field-of-view of HSC. The survey has started in early 2014, and we have already discovered more than 30 new quasars in the extremely distant Universe, that is at 13 billion light-years from us (Matsuoka et al., 2016, 2017). By investigating detailed properties of the newly discovered quasars, we can study how SMBHs grew in the first 1 billion years of the Universe. We have also discovered some quasars that are deeply obscured by a huge amount of dust. Such quasars are probably in the very early phase of the SMBH evolution, where active star-formation around a SMBH is occuring (Toba et al., 2015, 2017). The latter result was reported also through a press release by NAOJ and Ehime University (https://www.subarutelescope.org/Pressrelease/2015/08/26/). These studies are being carried out also with graduate students in Ehime University, and some students got their master or PhD degrees through the research activity of RCSCE.

(Left) The Subaru Telescope at the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, operated by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). (Right) A new quasar in the extremely distant Universe (13 billion light-years from us), discovered by us with Hyper Suprime Cam (HSC) boarded on the Subaru Telescope (Matsuoka et al., 2016, 2017).

To Study Space and Astronomy

From ancient times, humans have developed mathematics and physics to store knowledge about space. This means we need to study mathematics and physics in order to understand space. Not only physics but also mathematics is important to understand physical space. The great forerunner Galileo Galilei left us messages such as, "Mathematics is the key and door to the sciences." and "Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the Universe." For this reason, in order to open the door to the universe in our center, first you study in the Ehime University Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science. Then, you will continue your studies in our member's offices as a thesis research student or graduate student.

The Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science holds courses for mathematics, physics, and astronomy necessary to study space. Moreover, in April 2008, we started an astrophysics course where you can systematically study astrophysics. In the astrophysics course, you can study the basics of astrophysics in a small-sized astronomy seminar during sophomore and junior year. In addition, we have conducted observation training using large optical telescopes and radio telescopes to experience real observations at external organizations such as Hiroshima University, Kagoshima University, and Kyoto University.

Please fully enjoy the pleasure of space physics awaiting you behind the door in our university and center.

Q: How do I study space at the Research Center for Space and Cosmic Evolution?

A: The Research Center for Space and Cosmic Evolution conducts education and research in close collaboration with Ehime University though its Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science. Members of the Department of Physics can apply to become a part of the faculty for the laboratory at our center.

A: The Department of Physics holds courses for physics and astronomy that are necessary to study space. Moreover, in April 2008, we started an astrophysics course where you can systematically study astrophysics.

Q: How do I study space in the graduate school?

A: In the Ehime University Graduate School of Science and Engineering Pure and Applied Sciences Physics course, you can select a member of our center as your advisor.

Contact Information

Address:	Research Center for Space and Cosmic Evolution Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan
Tel, Fax:	+81-89-927-8430
Email: