Takatoshi Aoki

Search for dark matter with quantum sensing using ultracold atoms

Grant No.：JPMJPR2001

Researcher

Takatoshi Aoki

Outline

Dark matter can not be observed by using light. However, detecting an influence of it on weak force with light enables us to search for the dark matter. This project offers a novel aproach to enhance the measurement sensitivity of dark matter in atomic entanglement states. The quantum sensing combining light technologies with the weak force opens the new research area.

Nobuhisa Ishii

Photoexcitation dynamics of water probed by attosecond soft X ray pulses

Grant No.：JPMJPR2002

Researcher

Nobuhisa Ishii

Outline

In this study, extremely ultrafast dynamics of water upon photoexcitation is explored by a laser based attosecond soft X ray pulse source. A home built high－power ultrashort infrared pulse source around a wavelength of 2000 nm produces attosecond soft X ray pulses via a high harmonic generation process in noble gases . Using the attosecond soft X ray source, time resolved measurements of soft X ray absorption fine structure around the oxygen K edge at 540 eV are performed to reaveal the elementary relaxation process of photoexcited water.

Yuki Inada

Mid－Infrared Imaging Sensor with Ultra－High Sensitivity and Frame Rate for Novel Plasma Technology

Grant No.：JPMJPR2003

Researcher

Yuki Inada

Outline

In this project, a comprephensive plasma diagnostic system is developed for simultaneous, successive visualisation of the electron density and electric field with 100－times－higher sensitivity and frame rate over a spatiotemporally non-reproducible ultrafast discharge plasma. The huge amount of image data is fully utilized for the construction of a numerical simulation model and the identification of the generation mechanism of a rare plasma event, which contribute to the establishment of a novel plasma technology capable of producing massive chemically active species.

Yuuki Uesugi

Toward novel optical tecnology using nonlinear stimulated scattering of light by free electrons

Grant No.：JPMJPR2004

Researcher

Yuuki Uesugi

Outline

Scattering of light by free electrons occurs only with a small probability, which is determined by a physical constant called the Thomson cross section. However, it is known that the probability can be enhanced by a stimulating effect, bringing new applications to laser optics and electron optics. In this project, I aim to create novel optical technology using the stimulated scattering process, through the development of laser－based elements for electron microscopy and the investigation of nonlinear optical phenomena by free electrons.

Takashi Kato

Optical phased array using optical frequency comb

Grant No.：JPMJPR2005

Researcher

Takashi Kato

Outline

In this research, I aim to develop a fast and broadband optical phased array using an optical frequency comb and try to establish an arbitrary wavefront generation technique using a phase－controlled ultrashort pulse train. Although previous researches used conventional phase－control technique (e.g. EOM) with monochromatic CW laser in an optical integrated circuit, this study proposes a new phase－control technique by a cavity control of an optical frequency comb with broadband ultrashort pulses. I challenge the creation of a new optical technology in which space is directly controlled by optical frequency.

Natsuki Kanda

Control of material properties with vector field shaped intense THz－to－MIR pulses

Grant No.：JPMJPR2006

Researcher

Natsuki Kanda

Outline

In this research, the methods for generation of vector field shaped intense THz－to－MIR pulses will be established in order to realize ultrafast material control, for example Floquet－Weyl state of a Dirac semimetal. Technique for precise polarization measurements, vector field shaping, and amplification of field shaped pulses in this frequency region will be developed. This research will open a new route for ultrafast material control. In addition, each elementary techniques would be sophisticated and applied to various research fields.

Reika Kanya

Measurements of zeptosecond time delays by scattering of high energy electrons dressed by light

Grant No.：JPMJPR2007

Researcher

Reika Kanya

Outline

Through collision processes between rare gas atoms and high energy electrons in ultrashort pulsed laser fields, energy and angular distributions of scattered electrons will be recorded by an angle resolved time of flight electron analyzer. Through anayses of intensity distributions of scattered electrons, determination of zeptosecond time delays of scattered electrons induced by interaction potential between target atons and incident electrons will be conducted for exploring zeptosecond science.

Keiichiro Shiraga

Mysterious world of intracellular water investigated with attenuated total reflection terahertz spectroscopy

Grant No.：JPMJPR2008

Researcher

Keiichiro Shiraga

Outline

Water, the ”matrix of life”, is widely believed to serve unique and essential functions in a living system, but surprisingly, there are still many unexplored avenues in the study of molecular mechanisms in intracellular water. This research aims to clarify the relationship between physical properties of intracellular water and cell activities by constructing the innovative spectroscopy system that allows simultaneous measurement over the terahertz and mid－infrared regions with high accuracy and long-term stability.

Ryosuke Senga

Ultra－high spatial resolution isotope detection using electron beam infrared spectroscopy

Grant No.：JPMJPR2009

Researcher

Ryosuke Senga

Outline

This study explores basic research on infrared spectroscopy using an electron beam and develops technologies for highly sensitive isotope detections. As a result, the spatial resolution of isotope detection, which has been mainly used in macroscale applications, can be improved to sub－nanometers. This will realize isotope science on a completely different scale such as single－molecule and -atom tracking of biological and chemical reactions.

Ryusuke Hisatomi

Optospinmechanics using surface acoustic waves

Grant No.：JPMJPR200A

Researcher

Ryusuke Hisatomi

Outline

There is an angular momentum which has yet to be distinctly observed. That is the angular momentum of phonons. This research focuses on surface acoustic waves and aims to demonstrate the existence of the angular momentum of phonons using light. Based on this fundamental purpose, I am trying to build the physics of interconversion of the angular momentum between photons (optics), electron spins, and phonons (mechanics).

Yuta Michimura

New dark matter search with high precision polarization measurements

Grant No.：JPMJPR200B

Researcher

Yuta Michimura

Outline

Various astrophysical observations have revealed that about 80% of all the matter in our Universe is dark matter. Despite strong observational evidence for the existence, its identity and properties remain a mystery for many years. Among a variety of dark matter candidates, axion is recently receiving considerable attention. Axion is a hypothetical elementary particle which slightly interacts with light and modulates polarization states of light. This project aims to search for axion dark matter with unpreceded sensitivity, by precisely measuring the polarization states of light using laser interferometers.