Shunsaku Horiuchi

research interests

I am an associate professor at the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech, and a member of Center for Neutrino Physics. My main research interests lie at the interface of high-energy astrophysics and particle physics. I spend my time thinking about the the physics of supernova explosions and particle dark matter, and how they could be studied by high-energy cosmic messengers, from photons and cosmic rays to neutrinos.

With the rapid rise of multi-messenger astronomy, much progress is expected in the next decades. My work is primarily focused on providing theoretical input to what can be learnt in astronomical observatories & neutrino experiments and the implications of the results, for both particle physics and astrophysics. Here is an example review article concerning supernova neutrinos. I am also increasingly exploring the detectability of our theoretical predictions, which involves making use of astronomical observations. I am a member of the SuperNova Early Warning System which is providing the astronomical community a prompt alert of an imminent Milky Way core-collapse event, to complete multi-messenger observations of the supernova across the electromagnetic spectrum, in neutrinos, and in gravitational waves.

In addition, we often participate in NSF's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site running at the Virginia Tech physics department. The program covers a broad spectrum of research within neutrino physics. To learn more, including applications, please see the website.

Our research is supported by DOE, NSF, JSF, and JSPS.