Principle Investigators, Research Themes

Kenji Ohmori
National Institutes of Natural Sciences,Professor and Chairman

Coherent control is a technique that controls matter waves with light. We will develop a novel quantum simulator where our spatiotemporal coherent control with picometer and attosecond precision is combined with an ensemble of ultracold atoms or molecules trapped in an optical lattice. Methodology for observing and controlling many-body quantum systems obtained with this simulator will be applied to bulk solids to realize coherent control in the condensed phase.

Takashige Omatsu
Chiba University, Professor
Website of Lab

Topological light-waves, showing a total angular momentum defined as the vector sum of the orbital and spin angular momenta, provide a new quantum-mechanical scope for optics, and they can also lead to important new applications including the nano-scale processing of materials such as micro-needle fabrication. We are aiming to open novel photonic science fields and create new optical technologies by utilizing the topological light-waves produced by ultra-high-power laser technology and extreme nonlinear optics.

Takayoshi Kobayashi
The University of Electro-Communications, Professor
Website of Lab

Two laser systems are to be developed.
① Multi-color lasers with high stability, high spatial and frequency and temporal coherence with minimum satellite.
② Three different deep ultraviolet-near ultraviolet pulse lasers with most suited properties to the ultrafast spectroscopy
Using laser systems ①, interactions among many proteins and signal molecules are spatially and temporally resolved. Furthermore physiological processes are triggered by stimulation with the multicolor pulses with simultaneous observation of the process
Using laser systems ②,the mechanisms of photo-damaging processes of biomolecules and biopolymers and uncaging processes of caged molecules are to be established.
By these methods new methodologies of understanding the mechanisms of cancer, memory, immune, and photo-damage are to be established.

Takayoshi Yamauchi
Osaka University, Professor
Website of Lab

We develop an adaptive optical focusing system that allows synchrotron radiation X-rays to be utilized without loss of coherence and flux, and applied it to the construction of a microscope system. In this system, the size of an X-ray beam can be varied from microscale to nanoscale by controlling its wavefront. We incorporate this focusing method into a scanning/transmission X-ray microscope system that enables the simultaneous visualization of electron density, elements and chemical bonding states.