Chapter 7
Postwar Development of Astrophysics,
1946–2000 (Part II: Astrophysics)
Abstract In parallel with advancements in instrumentation, astrophysical research
has progressed to a highly advanced level in the postwar period. Since the appearance of works of Hayashi Chushiro on stellar evolution and of Unno Wasaburo on
theoretical astrophysics in the 1950s and 1960s, astrophysics has been taken up by
an increasing number of researchers across the country starting in the 1970s.
In this chapter, the development of astrophysics in Japan is traced through notable
works related to the Sun, stars, galaxies, and the Universe.
7.1 Development of Astrophysics
The driving force behind astrophysics in the postwar era is clearly the increasing
number of researchers in astronomy. Table 7.1 shows the numbers of members of the
Astronomical Society of Japan every 10 years from 1950 through 2000. The
members are divided into Special members (subscriber to Publications of Astronomical Society of Japan and Astronomical Herald, mostly researchers) and Normal
members (subscriber to Astronomical Herald). The increasing rate of research
members is remarkable in the second half of the postwar century.
In the postwar period, the fields of research subjects have been markedly
expanded with the increase of researchers. Table 7.2 presents the number of papers
presented at the Spring Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan in the
period 1957–1995. In this period, increasing numbers of papers were notable in the
fields of stars, galaxies, theory, and instrumentation.
In the following sections, select topics in the aforementioned fields are briefly
presented. A general overview on the history of astrophysics and cosmology in this
century can be obtained in the works of M. Longair (Longair 2006).
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_7
175
Postwar Development of Astrophysics,
1946–2000 (Part II: Astrophysics)
Abstract In parallel with advancements in instrumentation, astrophysical research
has progressed to a highly advanced level in the postwar period. Since the appearance of works of Hayashi Chushiro on stellar evolution and of Unno Wasaburo on
theoretical astrophysics in the 1950s and 1960s, astrophysics has been taken up by
an increasing number of researchers across the country starting in the 1970s.
In this chapter, the development of astrophysics in Japan is traced through notable
works related to the Sun, stars, galaxies, and the Universe.
7.1 Development of Astrophysics
The driving force behind astrophysics in the postwar era is clearly the increasing
number of researchers in astronomy. Table 7.1 shows the numbers of members of the
Astronomical Society of Japan every 10 years from 1950 through 2000. The
members are divided into Special members (subscriber to Publications of Astronomical Society of Japan and Astronomical Herald, mostly researchers) and Normal
members (subscriber to Astronomical Herald). The increasing rate of research
members is remarkable in the second half of the postwar century.
In the postwar period, the fields of research subjects have been markedly
expanded with the increase of researchers. Table 7.2 presents the number of papers
presented at the Spring Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan in the
period 1957–1995. In this period, increasing numbers of papers were notable in the
fields of stars, galaxies, theory, and instrumentation.
In the following sections, select topics in the aforementioned fields are briefly
presented. A general overview on the history of astrophysics and cosmology in this
century can be obtained in the works of M. Longair (Longair 2006).
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_7
175