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In April 2024, Ms. Chihiro Yoshida joined the Mechanical Engineering Group at the Instrumentation Technology Development Center (ITDC) as an associate engineer.

We interviewed her about what sparked her interest in the world of particle physics, the research she has conducted, and how she refreshes her mind when faced with challenges in her work.

I found physics interesting in high school, when I learned that the forces working in this world can be categorized into four interactions. I was also very surprised to learn that gravity, which is the most familiar to us, is the weakest of them all. After that, my interest shifted to CP symmetry and the origin of mass, and as I studied physics at university, I found myself in the laboratory of the nuclear hadron experiment.

I belonged to the Research Center for Accelerator and Radioisotope Science (RARIS), formerly the Research Center for Electron Photon Science, at Tohoku University, where I participated in an experiment on hadron photoproduction called LEPS2. There, I was in charge of developing an aerogel Cherenkov detector for particle identification in the search for Kaonic nuclei. LEPS2 was conducted at SPring-8, so I spent more than half of the month there.

I am a complete beginner when it comes to mechanical matters, so I am currently studying the basics. In the future, I plan to work on developing the intermediate water Cherenkov detector, IWCD for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.

Before coming to KEK, I lived in Sendai, where I enjoyed driving my moped to the seaside whenever the weather was good. Now, in Tsukuba, I am exploring the best places and routes for moped driving. I also enjoy listening to music, watching live video game streams, and doing nail art. With so many hobbies, I like to switch things up depending on the weather, my mood, and how I’m feeling physically.

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We look forward to your future activities at the IPNS!