2024.04.22

A Young ALMA Researcher Won Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT

A young ALMA researcher, Dr. Takuma Izumi at NAOJ received the Young Scientists’ Award, 2024 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Award Winner: Takuma Izumi, associate professor at NAOJ ALMA Project

Research awarded: Observational Researches on the various structures of matters around Active Galactic Nuclei

Dr. Takuma Izumi has been conducting research on active galactic nuclei (AGNs),
which are growing supermassive black holes, using the ALMA telescope.
The central hundred light-years region of the galactic center is an important observational target for elucidating the origin of the growth of supermassive black holes and the co-evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes.
However, due to its small size and the complexity of various types of materials mixed therein, detailed properties of the interstellar medium in this region were not understood well. Dr. Izumi, by conducting high-resolution observations of multiphase interstellar medium taking into account the astrochemical effects driven by the harsh X-ray radiation from AGNs as well, revealed for the first time the multiphase and dynamic nature of gaseous matter in the vicinity of black holes. Dr. Izumi found that molecular, atomic, and plasma gases exhibit different movements respectively, take unique chemical compositions, and then give rise to accretion flows and outflows there. His series of researches revealed the presence of a rich and highly dynamic matter around active black holes, which is not present on Earth or in our Galaxy, hence expanding our understanding of the material world.

Dr. Izumi commented on this award, saying, “I am extremely honored to receive such a wonderful award.I am grateful to all the wonderful collaborators, my academic advisors from my student days, the predecessors who developed the ALMA telescope, and everyone involved in the operation of the ALMA telescope, as well as all those who have guided and supported me so far. It has been over 10 years since I started my research on supermassive black holes at a graduate school, and over this time, I have utilized the high resolution and sensitivity of the ALMA telescope to advance my research from galactic scales to the vicinity of black holes. In our latest findings, by combining theoretical studies, we have finally captured the dynamic structure of the material very close to supermassive black holes, which had never been observed before, and successfully obtained physical and chemical interpretations of that environment. While obtaining very exciting results, I have also realized that achieving a milestone in research takes a long time and requires considerable effort. I will continue, with my original aspirations, to work diligently with my collaborators, and strive to contribute to the advancement of astronomy by producing even more interesting results in the future.”

Additional Information
– Press release issued on Nov 03, 2023: “Supermassive Black Hole Feeding and Feedback are Finally Resolved at the Center of an Active Galaxy”

Researchers related to ALMA have received the Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT four times.

In 2011: Band 10 Team won the Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT
– Award winner: Yoshinori Uzawa (NAOJ), Yasunori Fujii (NAOJ), Zheng Wang (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology)
– Research awarded: Pioneering research of terahertz receiver technology using superconducting niobium nitride mixers

In 2013: Three Japanese ALMA Researchers Won Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT
– Award winner: Masato Ishiguro (NAOJ), Tetsuo Hasegawa (NAOJ), Satoru Iguchi (NAOJ)
– Research awarded: Research of aperture synthesis telescope for high-precision imaging

In 2016: Japanese ALMA Antenna Development Team Won Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT
– Award winner: Masao Saito (NAOJ), Norikazu Mizuno (NAOJ), Noboru Kawaguchi (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) , Takeharu Oshima (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Satoru Iguchi (NAOJ)
– Research awarded: Development of high-precision ALMA submillimeter antenna

In 2021: Two Young ALMA Researchers Won Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT
– Award winner:Takafumi Kojima, associate professor at NAOJ Advanced Technology Center
– Research awarded:Research on high-sensitivity and wideband receivers for radio astronomy
– Award winner:akuya Hashimoto, assistant professor at University of Tsukuba
– Research awarded:Observational study of various most distant galaxies using emission lines of ionized oxygen

Tags : ALMA Topics ALMA People