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Keiko Kokeyama   BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA

Dr Keiko Kokeyama

(she/her)

BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Keiko Kokeyama

Overview

I am an experimental physicist in gravitational-wave detector science. Since the monumental first detection of gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger in 2015, followed by a neutron star merger in 2017, it has been a golden age of gravitational-wave astrophysics. The gravitational wave detectors are laser interferometers to detect distortions of space-time caused by gravitational waves, coming from somewhere in the universe. Because the distortions of space-time are extremely small, typically an order of 10^(-21) m (0.000...21 zeros... 001 m, one-millionth of a proton diameter), the gravitational-wave detectors are extremely sensitive, as precise as Heisenberg's uncertainty limit allows. I worked on two large-scale detectors, the LIGO Livingston detector and the KAGRA detector, to make the detector work and improve the sensitivity to run the astrophysical observations. Because the instruments must be very sensitive, many state-of-the-art technologies are being developed and implemented. Currently, at Cardiff, I work on new technologies to make future detectors more sensitive. We want to observe more numbers of black hole or neutron star mergers from even the father universe.

Please visit our website for more information: https://exp.gravity.cf.ac.uk/ 

Publication

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Articles

Conferences

Research

My research interests fall within the field of detector science for gravitational wave astrophysics.

  • Development of a novel birefringence sensor

  • Advanced sensing and control modeling for thermally affected interferometers

  • Implementation of variable reflectivity mirrors based on the etalon effect

  • Exploration of alternative thermal compensation systems for next-generation gravitational-wave detectors

For more information, visit our experimental group's website: https://exp.gravity.cf.ac.uk/ 

Teaching

Join my gravitational-wave classes and projects!

2024-25

  • Techniques in Precision Measurement (PXT906)
  • Experimental Physics (PXT1150)
  • MSC Physics Project (PXT999)

2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24

  • Experimental Gravitational-Wave Physics II (PXT902)
  • Experimental Physics (PXT1150)
  • Physics Project (PXT3315 and 3350)
  • MSC Physics Project (PXT999)

2021-22

  • Experimental Gravitational-Wave Physics II (PXT902)

Biography

Professional memberships

  • LIGO Scientific Collaboration (2009 - 2014, 2021 - Current)
  • KAGRA Collaboration (2015 - Current)
  • Gravity Allies (2024 - Current)
  • KAGRA Scientific Congress Board (2021 - 2023)

Academic positions

  • 2024 - Current: Associate Professor, Nagoya University, Japan (50% cross-appointment with Cardiff University).
  • 2024 - Current: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University, UK.
  • 2021 - 2023: Lecturer, Cardiff University, UK.
  • 2017 - 2021: Assistant Professor, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo, Japan
  • 2015 - 2017: Project Assistant Professor, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo, Japan
  • 2011 - 2015: Postdoctoral researcher, Louisiana State University, US.
  • 2009 - 2011: Postdoctoral researcher, University of Birmingham, UK.

Supervisions

Current supervision

Contact Details

Email KokeyamaK@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29225 14051
Campuses Queen's Buildings, Floor 2, Room N/2.13, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

Research themes