Annual report of Research Institute of Electrical Communication 2013

Contents
1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 1

2. Organization …………………………………………………………………………… 3
3. Research Activities
Research division•

Information Devices Division ………………………………………………… 5•

Broadband Engineering Division …………………………………………… 11•

Human Information Systems Division ……………………………………… 18•

Systems & Software Division ………………………………………………… 24

Laboratories and Center•

Laboratory for Nanoelectoronics and Spintoronics………………………… 30•

Laboratory for Brainware Systems ………………………………………… 38•

Research Center for 21st Century Information Technology ……………… 43•

Management Office for Safety and Health ………………………………… 46•

Flexible Information System Research Center …………………………… 47•

Fundamental Technology Center …………………………………………… 48•

Center for Spintronics Integrated Systems ………………………………… 49•

Research Organization of Electrical Communication …………………… 50•

Center for Innovative Integrated Electronics Systems …………………… 51

4. Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects ……………………………………… 53
5. Symposium ……………………………………………………………………………… 63
6. Study Groups on Electrical Communication ……………………………………… 69
7. International Activities ……………………………………………………………… 73
8. Periodicals Published by the Institute ……………………………………………… 77
9. Staff, Budget …………………………………………………………………………… 79

2013
1. Introduction
The RIEC was established in 1935 to research cutting-edge technologies such as
Yagi-Uda antennas and magnetrons. Since then, it has made a succession of pioneeringachievements in laying the foundations of information communication technology, andhas continued to play a world-leading role. To build on this tradition, we are gearing ourresearch towards the development and evolution of science and technology that willallow communications to be implemented in a way that enriches people's lives.
Since 2004, as a framework for this purpose, we have organized ourselves into four
Research Divisions (Information Devices, Broadband Engineering, Human Information
Systems and Systems & Software), two Laboratories (Laboratory for Nanoelectronics
and Spintronics and Laboratory for Brainware Systems), and one Research Center(Research Center for 21st Century Information Technology). These units are engaged inresearch aimed at achieving fruition over different time scales (Research Divisions: 20
years, Laboratories: 10 years, Research Center: 5 years). We have entered into close
cooperation with Tohoku University's graduate schools in subjects relating to electricalengineering (School of Engineering, Graduate School of Information Sciences andGraduate School of Biomedical Engineering) in order to cover a wide range ofcutting-edge research fields and foster the development of highly educated researchersand engineers.
In 2010, the RIEC was certified by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology (MEXT) as a Joint Usage/Research Center for collaborative research ininformation science and technology. To contribute to further community development,
we are working on joint research projects with external researchers and engineers fromindustry, government and academia.
Today, information science and technology is an essential part of the social
infrastructure, and there are growing demands for the implementation of fasterhigher-capacity telecommunications with greater energy savings. Another key attribute

1

2013
of the social infrastructure is disaster tolerance; a requirement that was demonstrated
only too well by the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. We also expect
to contribute to a new paradigm of information processing and communication thatinterconnects people in a fundamentally different way. At the RIEC, we will continue toaddress these social needs by taking full advantage of our status as auniversity-affiliated research center. In this way, we hope to play a leading role in the
new world of communication, and thereby promote education in the future.
To contribute to the improvement of our research activities and support future
developments, we have published this Annual Report every year to make our activities
relating to research, education and social contribution widely available for public
scrutiny. This edition contains reports on various activities including the research ateach of our departments and laboratories, the RIEC symposium, nation-wide
cooperative research projects, and the activities of the engineering research association
and RIEC lectures. In addition, the bibliography section has been greatly enhanced
compared with last year's edition, and now carries the data for various activities over thelast five years.
We welcome your frank opinions regarding our research reports, and I sincerely hope
we can continue to rely on your guidance and support in the future.

May 1, 2014
Director, Research Institute of Electrical Communication

Hideo Ohno

2

2013 Organization Chart
2. Organization䇭Chart
Director

Advisory Council

Information Devices Division

Deputy Director
Research Divisions

FacultyCouncilBroadband Engineering Division

Human Information Systems Division

Systems & Software Division

Research Facilities

Ultrahigh-Speed Optical Communication
Applied Quantum Optics
Advanced Wireless Information Technology
Information Storage Systems
Ultra-Broadband Signal Processing
Basic Technology for Broadband Communication
Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering
Advanced Acoustic Information Systems
Visual Cognition and Systems
Ubiquitous Communications System
Multimodal Computing

Software Construction
Computing Information Theory
Communication Network Systems
Information Content
Information Social Structure

Laboratory for
Nanoelectronics and Spintronics

Nano-Integration Devices and Processing
Semiconductor Spintronics
Nano-Molecular Devices
Nano-Spin Memory

Laboratory for Brainware Systems

Real-World ComputingIntelligent Nano-Integration System
New Paradigm VLSI System

Research Center for21st Century Information Technology

Project Planning Division
Technology Development Division:‫ ޓޓޓޓޓ‬Mobile Wireless Technology Group
Storage Technology GroupIntelligence Archive GroupManagement Office for Safety and HealthCommon Research
Facilities

Nano-Photoelectronics
Quantum-Optical Information Technology
Solid State Electronics
Dielectric Nano-Devices
Materials Functionality Design
Magnetic Dvices

Flexible Information System
Research Center
Fundamental Technology Center

Administration
OfficeGeneral Affairs Section
Cooperative Research Section
Library Section
Accounting Section
Purchasing Section
Support Division
Center for Spintronics Integrated Systems
Research Organization of Electrical Communication
Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems

33. Research Activities2013 Information Devices Division
Targets and achievements of the Information Devices Division
The main aim of the information devices division is to create new materials and devices fornext generation communication technology.
To accomplish this goal, we have the following 6 sub-divisions. The research fields include
nano-scale photoelectronic conversions, quantum-optical information technology, noveltransport properties in low-dimensional systems, new dielectrics-based nano-devices for
information storage, and design of new materials having exotic functionalities. We also have apartnership with Nano-Integration Devices and Processing section in the Laboratory for
Nanoelectronics and Spintronics.

1. Nano-Photoelectronics
2. Quantum-Optical Information Technology
3. Solid State Electronics
4. Dielectric Nano-Devices
5. Materials Functionality Design
6. Magnetic Devices (Visitor Section)

The research target and the summary of activities of each sub-division in 2013 are describedin the following pages. The summary of activities of Nano-Integration Devices and Processing
section is described in the chapter of Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics.

5

2013 Information Devices Division
Nanophotoelectronics

Exploring optical and electronic properties of nanometer-sized structures andtheir applications in photoelectronic devices
Nanophotoelectronics Yoichi Uehara, Professor
Nano photomolecular electronics Satoshi Katano, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Our main interest lies in studying the physical and chemical
phenomena that take place in nanometer-scale regions and theirapplications in nanophotoelectronic devices. We investigate thematerial properties of nanostructures through their optical responses
to the local excitation induced by electrons from the tip of a scanningtunneling microscope (STM), as illustrated in Fig. 1.
STM light emission spectroscopy in the THz spectral range is very
Fig. 1 STM light emissioninteresting because the spatial resolution attainable is not limited byspectroscopy
the wavelength of light to be detected. Last year, we succeeded in
detecting THz STM light emission. Since STM light emission is a kind of dipole radiation, its
intensity has the 2 term. (Here  is the frequency of STM light.) Hence, this success of detection
is not trivial at all. In this year, we intensively investigated the mechanism that makes thedetection possible, and ascertained it.
A metal nanoparticle and its assembled structure have attracted much attention because of theirhuge potential in the applications of quantum dots and biosensors. In this year, we have studied
the spatially-controlled deposition of a single Ag nanoparticle on the Si(111) surface using STM. A
clear exponential dependence on the tunneling current was observed for the formation of Ag
nanoparticles, suggesting that these are formed by the electric field. An atomically flat Au
substrate was also prepared by the evaporation method in order to start the research related tosingle molecular electronics based on a self-assembled monolayer.
[Staff]
Professor
Yoichi Uehara, Dr.
Associate Professor
Satoshi Katano, Dr.
[Profile]
Dr. Yoichi Uehara obtained his D. Eng. degree from the Department of Engineering, Universityof Osaka prefecture in 1986, after which, he was initially appointed as an Assistant Professor at the
Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University. He eventually became a Full
Professor at the institute in 2005. Dr. Uehara has worked on three main surface physics problems
at Tohoku University: (1) light emission from metal-insulator-metal and metal-oxide-semiconductor(MOS) tunnel junctions, (2) low-energy electron spectroscopy, and (3) light emission spectroscopy of
STM.
Dr. Satoshi Katano received his D. Sci. degree from Department of Electronic Chemistry, Tokyo
Institute of Technology in 2003.
He was a postdoctoral research fellow in RIKEN (2003-2006).
He joined RIEC, Tohoku University as an Assistant Professor in 2006 and was promoted to an
Associate Professor in 2012. His research interests include surface physical chemistry andnano-scale molecular optoelectronics.
[Papers]
[1]
[2]
[3]

6

Y. Uehara, M. Kuwahara, and S. Katano, "Measurement of Phonon Energy of Sb2Te3 by Scanning TunnelingMicroscope Light-emission Spectroscopy", Solid State Commun., 177, 29-32 (2014).
Y. Uehara, "Theory of Attenuated Total Reflection Including Effects of Roughness", Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 52,
102001 (2013).
S. Katano, Y. Kim, T. Kitagawa, and M. Kawai, "Tailoring Electronic States of a Single Molecule Using
Adamantane-based Molecular Tripods", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 15, 14229-14233 (2013).

Contact to Professor Yoichi Uehara : uehara@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Information Devices Division
Quantum-Optical Information Technology

Development of optoelectronic devices for quantum information andcommunication technology
Quantum-Optical Information Technology: Keiichi Edamatsu, Professor
Quantum Solid State Physics: Hideo Kosaka, Associate professor
Quantum Laser Spectroscopy: Yasuyoshi Mitsumori, Associate professor[Research Target and Activities]
Our goal is to develop the quantum information devices
utilizing quantum interaction between photons and electrons
in solids. In 2013, we have achieved (1) experimental demonstration of error-disturbance uncertainty relations in photon
polarization measurement, (2) fundamental experiment forquantum state transfer from a photon to a㩷 nuclear spin using
an NV center in diamond, and (3) observation of local-field effects on optical coherent transients of semiconductor quantum
dots.
[Staff]
Professor: Keiichi Edamatsu, Dr.
Associate Professor: Hideo Kosaka, Dr.
Associate Professor: Yasuyoshi Mitsumori, Dr.

Fig. 1 Experimental results(filled circles) and predicted lower
bounds(curves)oferror-disturbance uncertainty relations (EDR) in photon polarization measurement. The Heisenberg EDR (blue) is violated while
the EDRs proposed by Ozawa(red) and Branciard (purple andgreen) hold.

[Profile]
Keiichi Edamatsu received B.S., M.S., and D.S. degrees inPhysics from Tohoku University. He was a Research Associate
in Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University, a Visiting Associate in California Institute of Technology,
and an Associate Professor in Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University.
Hideo Kosaka received B.S., M.S degrees in Physics from Kyoto University, and PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from Kyoto University. He was a Principal Researcher in NEC Opto-electronics andBasic Research Labs, a Visiting Associate in California University of Los Angeles.
Yasuyoshi Mitsumori received B.S., M.S. and D.S. degrees in Applied Physics from Tokyo Institute ofTechnology. He was a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, a Researcher
in NTT Basic Research Laboratories, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Tokyo Institute of Technology, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Communications Research Laboratory, a Research Associate in Research Instituteof Electrical Communication, Tohoku University.

[Papers][1]

K. Asakura, Y. Mitsumori, H. Kosaka, K. Edamatsu, K. Akahane, N. Yamamoto, M. Sasaki, and N. Ohtani, “Excitonic Rabi oscillations in self-assembled quantum dots in the presence of a local field effect,” Phys. Rev. B 87,
241301(R)/1-4 (2013)[2]

F. Kaneda, S.-Y. Baek, M. Ozawa, and K. Edamatsu, “Experimental test of error-disturbance uncertainty relations byweak measurement,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 020502/1-5 (2014)[3]

T. Inagaki, H. Kosaka, Y. Mitsumori, and K. Edamatsu, “Process tomography of coherent state transfer from lightpolarization to electron spin polarization in a semiconductor,” Phys. Rev. B 89, 085311/1-7 (2014)

Contact to Professor Keiichi Edamatsu : eda@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

7

2013 Information Devices DivisionSolid State Electronics Laboratory

Paving a Way for Introducing Graphene into Silicon Technology
Solid State Electroncis Maki Suemitsu, Professor
Solid State Physics for Electroncis Hirokazu Fukidome, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Graphene is a two-dimensional honeycomb network of carbon atoms. Its extremely high carrier
mobility, which is ~100 times as high as that of silicon, makes graphene a dream material. We havedeveloped a method to form an epitaxial graphene onto silicon substrates for the first time, by
growing a heteroepitaxial SiC thin film on a Si substrate and by sublimating the surface Si atoms
from the SiC film (graphene-on-Si, or GOS, technology). We are currently working on theclarification of the growth kinetics of the epitaxial
SiC
graphene formation in GOS as well as on theGraphene
Silicondevelopment of graphene devices such as gas
SiC
sensors, digital and RF field-effect transistors, and䋫
optical devices using the GOS structure.
Graphene
In FY2013, we have clarified that the linear
GOS (Graphene on Silicon)
SiC
dispersion of electrons does exist in our epitaxial
graphene on Si substrate, demonstrated the site-selective formation of graphene on Si wafers, and succeededin fabrication of high-frequency operation of graphene FET using a self-aligned process.
[Staff]
Professor : Suemitsu, Maki Dr.
Assistant Professor : Fukidome, Hirokazu Dr.
Visiting Professor : Nagasawa, Hiroyuki Dr.
Research Assistant : Sai Jiao Dr.
Technical Assistant : Miura, Akemi[Profile]
Prof. Maki Suemitsu obtained bachelor degree on electronic enginnering (1975), Ph.D on electronicengineering (1980). He started his service at Research Institute of Electrical Communication(RIEC) as research associate (1980), and became associate professor (1990). He then became
professor at Center for Inderdisciplinary Research (2003). Since 2008, he has been professor at
RIEC. He has been engaged mainly on surfaces of semiconductor thin fims. He was awarded the 30
th Kumagai prize of the best paper from the Vacuum Soceity of Japan (2005) and the Best Paper
Award from the Surface Science Society of Japan (2011).
[Papers][1] H. Fukidome, Y. Kawai, H. Handa, H. Hibino, H. Miyashita, M. Kotsugi, T. Ohkouchi, M.-H. Jung, T.
Suemitsu, T. Kinoshita, T. Otsuji, and M. Suemitsu, "Site Selective Epitaxy of Graphene on Si Wafers,"
Proceeding of the IEEE, Vol. 101, pp. 1557-1566, 2013. (invited) (DOI: DOI:
10.1109/JPROC.2013.2259131)[2] M.-H. Jung, G.-H. Park, T. Yoshida, H. Fukidome, T. Suemitsu, T. Otsuji, and M. Suemitsu,"High-Performance Graphene Field-Effect Transistors with Extremely Small Access Length Using
Self-Aligned Source and Drain Techniques," Proceeding of the IEEE, Vol. 101, pp. 1603-1608, 2013.
(invited) (DOI: 10.1109/JPROC.2013.2258651)[3] H. Fukidome, M. Kotsug, K. Nagashio, R. Sato, T. Ohkouchi, T. Itoh, A. Toriumi, M. Suemitsu, T.
Kinoshita, “Orbital-specific Tunability of Many-Body Effects in Bilayer Graphene by Gate Bias andMetal Contact”, Scientific Reports, Vol. 4, pp.03713-1-03713-5 (2014).( DOI: 10.1038/srep03713)

8

Contact to Professor Maki Suemitsu : suemitsu@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Information Devices Division
Dielectric Nano-Devices

Research on Dielectric Nano Science and Technology
Dielectric Nano-Devices

Yasuo Cho, Professor[Research Target and Activities]
Our main area of interest is evaluation anddevelopment of dielectric materials, including
ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials and theirapplication to communication devices and ferroelectric
data storage systems. Our major contributions toadvancement in these fields are the invention and thedevelopment of “Scanning Nonlinear Dielectric
Microscope” (SNDM) which is the first successful Fig.1 Digital bit data written on ferroelectric
single crystal with the areal recording
purely electrical method for observing the ferroelectric
density of 4 Tbit/inch2.
polarization distribution without the influence of theshielding effect by free charges and it has already been put into practical use. The resolution of the
microscope has been improved up to atomic scale-order. Therefore, it has a great potential for realizing
the ultra-high density ferroelectric recording system.
Major achievements of studies in 2013 are as follows: (1) The interfacial state of graphene wasobserved using noncontact scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy (SNDM) with an atomic resolution.
Additionally, a novel method for observing the surface potential derived from electric dipoles wasdeveloped on a basis of NC-SNDM. (2) SiC MOS devices were characterized using a novel method ofsuper-higher-order nonlinear dielectric microscopy and the visualization of the depletion layer wasachieved. (3) In the development of a ferroelectric data storage technology, dot array writing using
HDD-type test system was demonstrated. The recording density reached 2.7 Tbit/inch2. (4) A novel
phenomenon concerning the conductivity in the boundary region of nanodomain dots formed on a
ferroelectric crystal was found out.
[Staff]
Professor 㧦 Yasuo Cho, Dr.
Assistant Professor 㧦 Yoshiomi Hiranaga, Dr.

Assistant Professor 㧦 Kohei Yamasue, Dr.
Technical Official 㧦 Yasuo Wagatsuma[Profile]
Yasuo Cho graduated in 1980 from Tohoku University in electrical engineering department. In 1985 hebecame a research associate at Research Institute of Electrical Communication Tohoku University. In
1990, he received an associate professorship from Yamaguchi University. He then became an associate
professor in 1997 and a full professor in 2001 at Research Institute of Electrical Communication
Tohoku University. During this time, his main research interests included nonlinear phenomena inferroelectric materials and their applications, research on the scanning nonlinear dielectric microscope,and research on using the nonlinear dielectric microscope in next-generation ultrahigh density
ferroelectric data storage (SNDM ferroelectric probe memory).
[Papers]
[1]

[2]
[3]

D. Mizuno, K. Yamasue and Y. Cho, “Atomic Dipole Moment Distribution on a Hydrogen-Adsorbed Si(111)-(7×7)
Surface Observed by Noncontact Scanning Nonlinear Dielectric Microscopy”, Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol. 103, p. 101601,
2013
Y. Hiranaga and Y. Cho, “Measurements of Nonlinear Dielectric Constants of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Thin Films Using a
Dynamic Measuring Method”, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys, vol. 52, p. 09KA08, 2013
Y. Cho, “Electrical Conduction in Nanodomains in Congruent Lithium Tantalate Single Crystal”, Appl. Phys. Lett.,Vol. 104, p. 042905, 2014

Contact to Professor Yasuo Cho : yasuocho@riec.tohoku.ac.jp92013 Information Devices Division
Materials Functionality Design

Computational Design of Functional Materials for Spintornics Devices
Materials Functionality Design: Masafumi Shirai, Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Our research targets are as follows: (1) theoretical analyses of quantum phenomena which appear inmaterials and nanostructures for advanced information devices, (2) computational design of materials
and nanostructures which possess new functionalities for improvement of device performance, and (3)development of new design procedures based on large-scale computational simulation techniques.
Our research activities in FY 2013 are as follows:(1) Transport in magnetic tunnel junctions
We investigated the spin-dependent transport
properties of MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ)
with D022-Mn3Ga or Mn3Ge electrodes. The tunnelingmagnetoresistance (TMR) ratios of Mn3Ga-based MTJ
depend remarkably on the interfacial structures; i.e.
600% and 35% for the MnMn and the MnGa termination,
respectively. On the other hand, the TMR ratio is over
4,000% for both terminations of Mn3Ge-based MTJs
owing to the fully spin-polarized 1 electrons at the Fermi
level in Mn3Ge (Fig. 1) [2].
Fig. 1(2) Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at interfaces
We investigated the magnetic anisotropy at half-metallic Co-based Heusler alloy/MgO interfaces.
High spin polarization and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are preserved at the MnAl-terminated
Co2MnAl/MgO interfaces. In contrast, the FeAl-terminated Co2FeAl/MgO interface shows in-planeanisotropy. The Co-terminated or over-oxidized FeAl-terminated interface is responsible for
perpendicular magnetic anisotropy observed experimentally in the Co2FeAl/MgO junction.

[Staff]
Professor : Masafumi Shirai, Dr.
Assistant Professor : Yoshio Miura, Dr.
Assistant Professor : Kazutaka Abe, Dr.
Research Fellow: Masahito Tsujikawa, Dr.
[Profile]
Masafumi Shirai was received the Doctor of Engineering degree from Osaka University in 1989.
From 1988 to 1996, he was a Research Associate, and then an Associate Professor at Osaka University.
From 2002 to the present, he has been a Professor at Tohoku University. Now his research interest is
focused on computational design of functional materials and device structures in spintronics.
[Papers]
[1]
[2]
[3]

Y. Miura, M. Tsujikawa and M. Shirai, “A first-principles study on magnetocrystalline anisotropy atinterfaces of Fe with non-magnetic metals,” J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 113, Article No. 233908, pp. 1-6, 2013
Y. Miura and M. Shirai, “Theoretical study on tunneling magnetoresistance of manetic tunnel
junctions with D022-Mn3Z (Z = Ga, Ge),” IEEE Trans. Magn., Vol. 50, Article No. 1400504, pp. 1-4, 2013
G.-f. Li, Y. Honda, H.-x. Liu, K. Matsuda, M. Arita, T. Uemura, M. Yamamoto, Y. Miura, M. Shirai, T.
Saito, F. Shi, and P. M. Voyles, “Effect of non-stoichiometry on the half-metallic character of Co2MnSi
investigated through saturation magnetization and tunneling spin polarization,” Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 89,
Article No. 014428, pp. 1-14, 201410

Contact to Professor Masafumi Shirai : shirai@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Broadband Engineering Division
3.2 Broadband Engineering Division: Research Target and Results

In order to establish the future broadband communication systems and novel devices
that are flexibly applied to the future ubiquitous ultra-large capacity information
communication, research and development are carrying out over the wide bands ofmicrowaves, millimeter/submillimeter waves, terahertz waves, and lightwaves withregard to the information generation, transmission, processing, and storage
technologies.
(1) Advanced Wireless Information Technology
We are actively engaged in the research work on the dependable wirelessinformation technologies for the next generation wireless systems which include
terrestrial / satellite communications. We cover the whole technical fields from thelower to higher layers, i.e., signal processing, RF/Mixed signal device, antenna,
MODEM and network technologies.

We have developed “Multi-mode Software definedradio (SDR) very small aperture terminal (VSAT)” valid for large scale disaster recovery
and have demonstrated the trial VSAT systems in the damaged area of the great east
Japan earthquake. We have also developed novel access system for the location & shortmessage communication system via Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and related
RF/antenna devices.
(2) Ultra-Broadband Signal Processing
We are developing novel, integrated electron devices and circuit systems operatingin the terahertz region. One of our major concerns is a new material called “graphene”, asingle-layered honeycomb-lattice carbon crystal.
First, we theoretically discovered and experimentally verified the giant THz gain ofthesurface

plasmonpolaritonsinpopulation-inverted

graphene.

We

also

experimentally verified the spontaneous and stimulated THz emission in optically
pumped graphene at room temperature. Second, we developed plasmon-resonant THz
emitters/detectors, succeeding in world-first coherent monochromatic THz emission andbreaking the record sensitivity of 22.7 (6.4) kV/W at 220-GHz (1.5-THz) radiation.
(3) Ultrahigh-Speed Optical Communication
To achieve a global high-capacity optical network, we have been engaging in the
research on ultrahigh-speed Optical Time-Division Multiplexing (OTDM) transmission
and highly spectral-efficient coherent Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)
transmission.
This year, we successfully demonstrated 2048 QAM coherent optical transmission
for the first time, and achieved an ultrahigh spectral efficiency as high as 15.3 bit/s/Hz.

11

2013 Broadband Engineering Division
We also realized ultrahigh-speed and highly spectral-efficient transmission using a
coherent optical Nyquist pulse, and achieved a spectral efficiency of 7.5 bit/s/Hz in asingle-channel 1.92 Tbit/s, 64 QAM transmission.
(4) Applied Quantum Optics
Novel functional semiconductor photonic devices including photonic integrated
circuits are being investigated to explore new-generation photonic network systems.
Ultra-high-speed semiconductor photonic active devices are being investigated. The
study on high-speed operation of external cavity semiconductor lasers by injecting
high-speed signal light is being continued. It is confirmed that the 3 dB bandwidth ofthe laser is enlarged to more than 50 GHz by measuring the frequency response of thefabricated device. The study on compact and narrow linewidth semiconductor laser
sources is also being proceeded. We try to narrow the spectral linewidth of asemiconductor laser by applying a compact and simple optical negative feedback scheme
to the laser. From the numerical simulation, it is confirmed that the spectral linewidthof the laser can be reduced to less than 1 kHz by applying this optical negative feedback
scheme to a semiconductor laser.
(5) Information Storage Systems
Research on next-generation perpendicular magnetic recording is carrying out forhigh density data storage to meet the strong demand of rapid information increase in
the Internet, and storage system technology as well.
We unveiled that areal density of 5 Tbit/inch2, which is tenfold of current density,
was difficult only by the bit-patterned media by theoretical approach with a computer
simulation. For such high density, we clarified thermal assist recording technique thatheats a narrow recording area is indispensable. Storage system technology to enhancethe data transfer rate was also developed.

12

2013 Broadband Engineering Division
Research Laboratory of Ultrahigh-Speed Optical Communication

Advanced optical communication technologies approaching the Shannon limit-lo g (B E R )Intensity [a.u]Power [dBm]

Research Area of Optical Transmission 
Masataka Nakazawa, Professor 
Research Area of Optical Signal Processing
Toshihiko Hirooka, Associate Professor
Research Area of High Accuracy Measurements using Optical Fibers
Masato Yoshida, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Back-to-back (㼠)Theoretical curve
Theoretical curve
1.2
10
Back-to-back (/ /)Raised cosine D=0.5
Raised cosine D=0.5
2
With the vast growth of Internet
After 150 km (㼠)10After 150 km (/ /)0.8
traffic, it has become increasingly
FEC limit-10
0.6
4.5 dB3
importanttorealize
a
-20
0.4
-30
high-capacity
andhigh-speed
0.2
4
-40
0
network. This laboratory aims to
5
-0.2
-50
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
1537 1538 1539 1540
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
achieve a global ultrahigh-speed
Received power [dBm]
Wavelength [nm]Time [ps]optical network by engaging in the
(a)
(b)
(c)
research of ultrashort pulse Fig. 1 Waveform (a) and spectrum (b) of a coherent Nyquist
generation and transmission. This pulse and 1.92 Tbit/s, 64 QAM transmission result (c).
year, we successfully achieved 2048
QAM coherent optical transmission, ultrahigh-speed and highly spectral-efficient transmission of
1.92 Tbit/s, 64 QAM signal using coherent Nyquist pulses, and 16 QAM quantum stream cipher
transmission at 10 Gbit/s over 160 km. Figure 1 shows the result of 1.92 Tbit/s/ch, 64 QAM coherent
Nyquist pulse transmission over 150 km, where a spectral efficiency reached as high as 7.5 bit/s/Hz.
[Staff]Distinguished Professor: Masataka Nakazawa, Dr. Associate Professor: Toshihiko Hirooka, Dr.
Associate Professor: Masato Yoshida, Dr.
Assistant Professor: Keisuke Kasai, Dr.
[Profile]
Masataka Nakazawa received the Ph. D. degree from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1980. He
joined the Ibaraki Electrical Communication Laboratory, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Public
Corporation. He was a visiting scientist at MIT in 1984-1985. In 2001, he became a Professor of the
Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, where he has been engaged inresearch on ultrahigh-speed optical communication including soliton transmission, nonlinear
effects in fibers, mode-locked lasers, and photonic crystal fibers. He is currently the Director of
Research Organization of Electrical Communication.
Toshihiko Hirooka received the Ph. D. degree from Osaka University in 2000. From 2000 to 2002,
he was a Research Associate at University of Colorado at Boulder. He is currently an Associate
Professor at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University. He has been
engaged in research on ultrahigh-speed optical communications and nonlinear fiber optics.
Masato Yoshida received the Ph.D. degree from Tohoku University in 2001. In 2001, he joined the
Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, where he is currently an
Associate Professor. His research interests include mode-locked fiber lasers, coherent opticalcommunication, and photonic crystal fibers.
[Papers][1] K. Harako, D. Seya, T. Hirooka, and M. Nakazawa, “640 Gbaud (1.28 Tbit/s/ch) optical Nyquist pulse
transmission over 525 km with substantial PMD tolerance,” Opt. Express, vol. 21, no. 18,
pp.21063-21076, September (2013).
[2] D. O. Otuya, K. Kasai, M. Yoshida, T. Hirooka, and M. Nakazawa, “A single-channel 1.92 Tbit/s, 64
QAM coherent optical pulse transmission over 150 km using frequency-domain equalization,” Opt.
Express, vol. 21, no. 19, pp. 22808-22816, September (2013).
[3] M. Nakazawa, M. Yoshida, T. Hirooka, and K. Kasai, "QAM quantum stream cipher using digital
coherent optical transmission," Opt. Express vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 4098-4107, February (2014).

Contact to Professor Masataka Nakazawa : nakazawa@riec.tohoku.ac.jp13

2013 Broadband Engineering DivisionApplied Quantum Optics

Research on Innovative Highly Functional Photonic Semiconductor Devices
Highly Functional Photonics
Hiroshi Yasaka, Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Novel functional semiconductor photonic devices including InP-based photonic integrated
circuits are being investigated to explore new-generation photonic network systems.
Ultra-high-speed semiconductor photonic active devices are being investigated. The study
on high-speed operation of passive feedback semiconductor lasers (PFLs) by injecting high-speed
signal light is being continued. It is confirmed experimentally that the 3 dB bandwidth of the PFL isenlarged to more than 50 GHz by measuring the frequency response of the fabricated device.
The study on compact and narrow linewidth semiconductor laser sources is also being
proceeded. Narrow linewidth semiconductor lasers are indispensable to realize future digital
coherent optical systems and also highly functional optical sensing systems. Usually the spectral
linewidth of a single-mode semiconductor laser takes a value of some MHz. We try to narrow the
spectral linewidth of a semiconductor laser by applying a compact and simple optical negative
feedback scheme to the laser. An optical filter is set at the output end of the laser, which is act as an
optical discriminator, and the reflected light from the optical filter is fed back to the laser. From thenumerical simulation, it is confirmed that the spectral linewidth of the laser can be reduced to lessthan 1 kHz by applying this optical negative feedback scheme to a semiconductor laser.

Photo of a fabricated optically controlled passive feedback laser (left), measured small signal
response of the fabricated device (middle), and spectral shape of a single-mode semiconductor laser
under free running (dashed line) and optical negative feedback (solid blue line) conditions (right).

[Staff]
Professor 㧦 Hiroshi Yasaka, Dr.
[Profile]
Hiroshi Yasaka received M.S. degrees in physics from Kyusyu University in 1985, and Ph.D.
degree in electronic engineering from Hokkaido University in 1993. In 1985 he joined Nippon
Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation. Since then, he has been engaging in research anddevelopment on semiconductor photonic devices for optical fiber communication systems. From2008 he has been a professor of Tohoku University.
[Papers][1]

T. Saikai, T. Yamamoto, E. Yamada, and H. Yasaka, “Flat-top Optical Frequency Comb Block
Generation using InP-based Mach-Zehnder Modulator,” The 25th International Conference on
Indium Phosphide and Related Materials (IPRM2013), MoD3-3, May 2013.
[2] T. Yamamoto, T. Saikai, E. Yamada, and H. Yasaka, “Tailored Optical Frequency Comb Block
Generation using InP-based Mach-Zehnder Modulator,” IEICE Transactions on Electronics, vol.
E97-C, No. 3, pp. 222-224, 2014.

14

Contact to Professor Hiroshi Yasaka : yasaka@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Broadband Engineering Division
Advanced Wireless Information Technology

For Realization of the Next Generation Mobile Network
Advanced Wireless Information Technology Noriharu Suematsu, Professor
Advanced Wireless Network Technology
Suguru Kameda, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Toward the realization ofRadio wave (UHF/microwave/mm-wave)
a ubiquitous and broad-band
MIMO
wireless network, we areTx Mixer
Tx Signal
HPA
Multi(Digital)
Antenna
actively engaged in the
DAC
EncoderModulator
FilterFilterresearch work on dependable
Channelselector
Voltage controlled
Control
oscillator (VCO)
Tx/Rx
and low power consumption
signalChannel measurement
Switchand estimation
Synthesizer
advanced wireless IT. We
PLL
LNA
Frequency
domaincover the whole technical
DeDecoder
ADC
equalizer
Filtermodulator
Filter(FDE)
Rx Signal
fields from the lower to
Rx
Mixer
Beam
(Digital)
Heterogeneous/Forminghigher layers, i.e., signal
Multi-band RF/mmWave CMOS IC
Channel Estimation
Beam-forming Transmitter/Receiverprocessing, RF/Mixed signal
Signal Processing
device, antenna, MODEM
Fig. The target system ofand network technologies.
Advanced Wireless Information Technology Laboratory.
We
havedeveloped“Multi-mode software defined radio (SDR) very small aperture terminal (VSAT)” valid for large scaledisaster recovery and have demonstrated the trial VSAT systems in the damaged area of the great east
Japan earthquake. We have also developed novel access system for the location & short message
communication system via Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and related RF/antenna devices.
[Staff]
Professor: Noriharu Suematsu, Ph. D
Associate Professor: Suguru Kameda, Ph. D
Research Fellow: Shoichi Tanifuji, Ph. D (until August, 2013)[Profile]
Noriharu Suematsu received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electronics and Communication
Engineering from Waseda University in 1987 and 2000. From 1987 to 2010, he had been with the
R&D center of Mitsubishi Electric, Japan. Since 2010, he has been a professor of Research Institute ofElectrical Communication (RIEC), Tohoku University. He received the OHM technology award fromthe promotion foundation for electrical science and engineering in 2002 and Prize for Science andTechnology, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology in 2009.
Suguru Kameda received the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electronics Engineering from Tohoku
University in 1997, 1999 and 2001, respectively. From 2001, he was an assistant professor of the
RIEC. From 2012, he has been currently an associate professor.

[Papers][1] S. Yoshida et al., “A 60-GHz band planar dipole array antenna using 3-D SiP structure in small wireless terminals for
beamforming applications,” IEEE Trans. Antennas and Prop., vol.61, no.7, pp.3502-3510, July 2013.
[2] T. T. Ta et al., “A calibrationless Si-CMOS 5-bit baseband phase shifter using a fixed-gain-amplifier matrix,” IEICE
Trans. Electron., vol.E96-C, no.10, pp.1322-1329, Oct. 2013.
[3] N. Suematsu et al., “Multi-mode SDR VSAT against big disasters,” EuMC 2013, pp.842-845, Nuremberg, Germany,
Oct. 2013 (invited).

Contact to Professor Noriharu Suematsu : suematsu@riec.tohoku.ac.jp15

2013 Broadband Engineering Division
Information Storage System

Research on Large Capacity Information Storage System using High Density
Perpendicular Magnetic Recording
Information Storage Systems: Hiroaki Muraoka, Professor
Recording Theory Computation: Simon J. Greaves, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
The amount of digital information is rapidly growing year by year, and isestimated to reach to Zata-byte in 2020. For such extremely large storage
capacity high density magnetic recording is required. Next-generation
perpendicular magnetic recording is explored in order to continuously develop
the areal density of hard disk drives beyond the conventional density limit, i.e.,a near-future target of 1 Tbit/inch2 and ultimately exceeding 5 Tbit/inch2.
Theoretical studies including a micromagnetic computer simulation inassociation with an experimental approach are carried out to develop the next
generation of high density perpendicular recording devices.
As we have proposed, the magnetic nano-structure of recording media is
the most essential parameter to achieve high density perpendicular recording.
Bit-patterned medium (Fig 1) is a promising candidate. We have revealed thepossibility of an areal density of 5 Tbit/inch2 in conjunction with heat assisted
recording. Disk noise reduction by improving microstructure is in progress.
Research on information storage systems (Fig. 2) is being carried out.
High data transfer rate by distributed file system with grouped disk drives
was investigated. It was experimentally demonstrated that the data transfer
rate of properly designed system was proportional to the number of drives.
[Staff]
Professor: Hiroaki Muraoka, Ph.D. (since 2000)
Associate Professor: Simon J. Greaves, Ph.D. (since 2003)
Secretary: Chie Watanabe[Profile]
Hiroaki Muraoka joined Tohoku University in 1991. Since then, he has been engaged in research on
high-density magnetic recording devices, systems and recording theories, mainly for perpendicularmagnetic recording. He received PhD degree in 1981. He is a Fellow of IEEE.
Simon J. Greaves has been at Tohoku University since 2003. He uses micromagnetic simulations atmagnetic recording to investigate the potential of future storage devices. He received his Ph.D in 1993
from Salford University, UK.
[Papers][1] Simon John Greaves, Yasushi Kanai, and Hiroaki Muraoka, “Thermally assisted magnetic
recording at 4 Tbit/in2,” IEEE Trans. Magn., 49, 6, 2665-2670, 2013. [Invited][2] Kenji Miura, Hiroyuki Katada, Makoto Oguma,Yasutaka Nishida, and Hiroaki Muraoka, “Erase
Band Noise and Generation Mechanism Due to an Adjacent Track,” IEEE Trans. Magn. 49, 7,
3795-3798, 2013.
[3] Simon John Greaves, Yasushi Kanai, Hiroaki Muraoka, “High Frequency Recording With Shielded
Planar Type Heads,” IEEE Trans. Magn. 49, 7, 3806-3809, 2013.

16

Contact to Professor Hiroaki Muraoka : muraoka@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Broadband Engineering Division
Ultra-broadband Signal Processing

Novel Millimeter-wave and Terahertz Integrated Electron Devices and Systems
Ultra-Broadband Devices and Systems: Taiichi Otsuji, Professor
Ultrafast Electron Devices: Tetsuya Suemitsu, Associate Professor
Ultra-Broadband Device Physics: Stephane Boubanga Tombet, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]Ultrafast photonic, electronic and plasmonic devices using graphene and III-V semiconductors.
(Left: giant terahertz (THz) gain via surface plasmon-polaritons in optically pumped graphene, center: InP-based
asymmetric dual-grating-gate (A-DGG) HEMT, right: coherent, monochromatic THz emission from the A-DGG HEMT.)

We are developing novel, integrated electron devices and circuit systems operating in the terahertz(THz) region. Recent works and achievements are schematically shown in the above figures.
[Staff]
Professor: Taiichi Otsuji, Dr. Eng.
Visiting Professor: Victor Ryhii, Ph.D.
Associate Professor: Tetsuya Suemitsu, Dr. Eng.
Associate Professors: Stephane Boubanga Tombet, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor: Akira Satou, Dr. Comp. Sci.
Assistant Professor: Susumu Takabayashi, Dr. Eng.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow: Adrian DobroiU, Ph.D.
Secretary: Kayo Ueno, Kaori Sugawara[Profile]
Taiichi Otsuji: received the Dr. Eng. deg. from Tokyo Tech., Japan, in 1994. After working for NTT
Labs., Japan, since 1984, he joined Kyutech in 1999, as an Assoc. Prof., being a prof. from 2002. Since
2005, he has been a Prof. at RIEC, Tohoku Univ., Japan. Recipient of the Outstanding Paper Award of
the 1997 IEEE GaAs IC Symposium. Member of IEEE(Fellow), OSA (Senior), IEICE, and JSAP.
Tetsuya Suemitsu: received Dr. Eng. from Waseda Univ., Japan, in 2000. Research Scientist, NTT
Labs., Japan (1994- 2006); Visiting Scientist, MIT, USA (2002-2003); Assoc. Prof., Tohoku Univ., Japan(2006-). Recipient of the Best Paper Award, IEICE (2003), and the ELEX Best Paper Award, IEICE(2007). Member of IEEE(Senior), APS, JSAP, and PSJ.
Stephane Boubanga Tombet: received Ph.D. from Montpellier 2 Univ., France, in 2008. JSPS
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tohoku Univ., Japan (2009-2010); Postdoctoral Researcher, Tohoku
Univ., Japan (2011); Physics Consultant, University of Rouen, France (2011); Postdoctoral Researcher,
Los Alamos National Lab., USA (2012-2013). Associate Professor, Tohoku Univ., Japan (2013-present).
[Papers][1] T. Watanabe, T. Fukushima, Y. Yabe, S.A. Boubanga Tombet, A. Satou, A.A. Dubinov, V. Ya Aleshkin, V. Mitin, V.
Ryzhii, and T. Otsuji, "Gain enhancement effect of surface plasmon polaritons on terahertz stimulated emission in
optically pumped monolayer graphene," New Journal of Physics, Vol. 15, Iss. 7, pp. 075003-1-11, July 2013.
[2] T. Watanabe, A. Satou, T. Suemitsu, W. Knap. V.V. Popov, and T. Otsuji, "Plasmonic Terahertz Monochromatic
Coherent Emission from an Asymmetric Chirped Dual-Grating-Gate InP-HEMT with a Photonic Vertical
Cavities,"CLEO: Conference on Lasers and Electrooptics Dig., CW3K.7, San Jose, CA, USA, June 12, 2013.
[3] T. Otsuji, V. Popov, and V. Ryzhii, “Active graphene plasmonics for terahertz device applications,” J. Phys. D., Vol. 47,
Iss. 09, pp. 094006-1-10, Feb. 2014.
Contact to Professor Taiichi Otsuji : otsuji@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

17

2013 Human Information Systems Division
Aims and Achievements of Human Information Systems Division
To realize advanced information communications systems, it is essential to understandand apply sophisticated information processing mechanisms of human being as well as toestablish communications environments in that human can communicate anywhere,anytime without recognizing the communications tools. The aim of this division is toresearch and develop core and system technologies essential to advanced human friendly
information and communications systems through understanding biological information
generation mechanisms, human information processing mechanisms focusing on acoustic
and visual inputs, and optimizing the communications environments.
To achieve the goal of the Division, four laboratories have been carrying out
researches and developments in the following areas: (1) Electomagnetic Bioinformation
Engineering, (2) Advanced Acoustic Information Systems, (3) Visual Cognition and Systems,and (4) Ubiquitous Communications Systems.
The goals and achievements in the fiscal year 2013 of each laboratory are described indetail below.
(1) Electomagnetic Bioinformation Engineering(Aims) This laboratory aims at obtaining the high accuracy sensor system for the signals
from the human body or electric devices and at obtaining the system for approaching action
to the human body by using the nano-scale controlled magnetic materials and by thedevelopment of the devices under the functions of the magnetics.
(Achievements)
We studied high-sensitive magnetic field sensors and strain sensors. We found the mostimportant parameter is the magnetic anisotropy of the thin film materials, and we proposed
new technology for controlling the magnetic anisotropy. On the work obtaining very low-lossmaterials for motor-cores, we proposed new method to decrease an magnetic loss named
in-plane eddy current loss which was no way to decrease. The study about the magnetic
actuator driven by the external magnetic field was carried out to obtain new medical devices
which work implanted in the human body. New material based on fine particles was
proposed as which has new functions.
(2)Advanced Acoustic Information Systems(Aims) To realize future high-definition communications systems with rich and natural senseof presence, this laboratory aims at developing acoustic information processing
technologies based on good knowledge of human auditory system as well as multimodal
perception relating to hearing.
(Achievement) In FY2013, we deepen the understanding human spatiotemporal perceptual
processes of audio-vestibular information. In particular, we confirmed distortion of auditory
space perception in the presence of vestibular information. We also studied how the sense18

2013 Human Information Systems Divisionof presence and verisimilitude is affected by physical factors involved in multimodal content
consisting of auditory, visual and vestibular information. These studies are particularly
important to realize future multi-modal sensory information processing and communication
systems. Moreover, we continued to develop advanced acoustic systems, such as virtual
auditory displays based on our accumulated knowledge of human auditory space perception,
sensing and reproduction system based on High-order Ambinonics consisting of over 100
channels, 252-ch binaural spatial sound sensing system (SENZI). They are keenly required
to realize super-definition audio-visual communications in near future.
.
(3) Visual Cognition and Systems(Aims) This laboratory aims at understanding the mechanisms of human visual perception
in our brain to improve the design of visual information display in the information &communication technologies.
(Achievements)
Firstly, we investigated how our body parts successfully interact with objects in the outside
world. We found that a motion aftereffect (MAE) has spatial selectivity in hand-centeredcoordinates. Secondly, we investigated how the eye direction relative to the head influences
visual cognition. Using a visual search task in which attention is required, we found thatlateral viewing increased the time required to find the target compared with front viewing.
Thirdly, we investigated the difference in shape representation between vision and haptics,
using the mental rotation task that participants rotate an imagery object in the brain. We
found different effects of rotation angle between visual and haptic learning conditions,suggesting that visual and haptic movement representations are processed independently.
(4) Ubiquitous Communications System(Aims) The goal of ubiquitous communications is to realize communications environmentsin that everybody can communicate with anybody, anywhere and anytime without
recognizing the communications tools. Towards this goal, we have been carrying out
research and developments on wide area sensor networks (range: ~ 5 km) and the coretechnologies to realize Super Broad Band Indoor Wireless Communications with whichpeople can enjoy multiple Gbps transmission freely. Furthermore, we will contribute to IEEE
standardization with the developed technologies.
(Achievements) Major achievements in this year include (1) proposal of ISWAN ((Integrated
Services Wireless Wide Area Networks) which will work as a wide area sensor network andas an anti-disaster network for emergency case, (2) Technology developments such as (i)900 MHz propagation measurements in rural, sub-urban and urban areas showing 5 km, 2
km and 1 km transmissions are practically possible respectively, (ii) Interference-resistantperformance that is 10- 30 dB better than traditional sensor networks, (iii) Development of
900 MHz small-sized directive base station antenna based on 60 GHz beam forming
antenna technology, and (iv) TRX development to verify the long transmission range system
19

2013 Human Information Systems Division
concept as well as each technology. (3) Contribution to IEEE Standardization on wide area
sensor networks (4) Continuing 60 GHz beam forming antenna research and developments
in addition to automobile wireless harness systems using radio hoses.

20

2013 Human Information Systems Division
Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering

Communication with human body
Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering, Kazushi Ishiyama, Professor
Electromagnetic Biomaterial Engineering, Shuichiro Hashi, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
We studied the mechanism of obtaining the magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic thin films for thesensitive magnetic sensors. We obtained a non-metal probe for high frequency magnetic field, andconfirmed the probe can measure the high frequency magnetic field with its phase information. In
addition, 3D position detecting system using magnetic markers was studied to improve its position
accuracy. The study about the magnetic actuator driven by the external magnetic field was carried out
for biomimetic robots using the rotational magnetic field, and small wireless pumps were obtained andclarified for their application for an artificial heart-support pump.
Signal generator
㱗 : 670 nm

Ref.
Lock-in amplifier

DUT

MirrorPulsed laser

Objective lensHalf mirror
Differential
Garnet XY electrical stage
detector

Output1.0

0.5
Y [mm]

0.0-0.70
Magnetic
field [Oe]

-0.5

-1.0
-1.0

[Staff]
Professor: Kazushi Ishiyama, Dr.
Associate Professor: Shuichiro Hashi, Dr.
Assistant Professor: Sung Hoon Kim, Dr.

-0.35

0.0

-0.5

0.0
0.5
X [mm]

1.0

Magnetic field [Oe]0.35

Fig. 1 Prototype of wireless artificial heart
assist blood pump[2]

0.7

0.70

0.35

Meas. (10 Pm)
Simulation (10 Pm)
Simulation (20 Pm)

0
-0.35
-0.7
-1

-0.5

0
Y [mm]

0.5

1

Fig. 2 High frequency magnetic field imaging
system using magneto-optical crystal probe[1][Profile]
Kazushi Ishiyama received his MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from Tohoku University
in 1986 and 1993, respectively. His research interests are in the area of magnetics and magnetic
applications.
Shuichiro Hashi received the DE degree in Electrical Engineering from Tohoku University in 1998. His
research interests are in the area of magnetic measurement and magnetic materials.
[Papers][1] J. Takahashi, S. Hashi, K. Ishiyama, “Measurement for Magnetic-field Distribution Using Pulsed
Laser with Magneto-optical Effect,” Journal of the Magnetics Society of Japan, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 24-28(2013).
[2] S. H. Kim, S. Hashi, K. Ishiyama, Y. Shiraishi, Y. Hayatus, M. Akiyama, Y. Saiki, T. Yambe,“Preliminary validation of a new magnetic wireless blood pump,” Artificial Organs, Vol. 37, Issue 10, pp.
920-926 (2013).
[3] S. Hashi, S. Yabukami, K. Ishiyama, K. I. Arai, “Downsizing of LC Markers for a Wireless Magnetic
Position Detection System,” Sensor Letters, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 98-101 (2013).
[4] J. W. Shin, S. H. Kim, S. Hashi, K. Ishiyama, “Dependence of the magnetic anisotropy on the ratio of
the thicknesses of the magnetic and conductive layers,” Journal of the Korean Physical Society, Vol. 63,
No. 3, pp. 676-680 (2013).
Contact to Professor Kazushi Ishiyama : ishiyama@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

21

2013 Human Information Systems Division
Advanced Acoustic Information Systems

Development of next generation communication systems
Advanced Acoustic Information Systems: Yôiti Suzuki, Professor
Auditory and Multisensory Information Systems: Shuichi Sakamoto, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
The main interest of this laboratory is a study of theinformation processing in the human auditory system.
We are, at the same time, aiming at the realization of a'comfortable' sound environment exploiting digital
signal processing techniques. Three-dimensional
auditory displays based on the sound image control by
simulating transfer functions of sound paths fromsound sources to listeners' external ears, and sensing
systems of 3D sound field information are two
examples. These systems are expected to provide ahigh-quality virtual sound space, which is keenly
required to realize in the multimedia communications,cyberspace systems and visual reality systems.
Moreover, in 2013, we put a lot of effort to develop a Fig. 1 Application for training spatial
system to acquire 3D sound-space information that can cognition based on high-definition virtual
auditory display
save, transmit, and reproduce accurate sound-space
information to a distant place using a microphonearray on a human-head-sized solid sphere with numerous microphones on its surface, and investigate
how people perceive sound-space information while their heads are rotating.
[Staff]
Professor: Yôiti Suzuki, Dr., Associate Professor: Shuichi Sakamoto, Dr.
Assistant Professor: Tomoko Ohtani, Dr., Research Fellow: Zheng Lie Cui, Dr.
Technical Staff: Fumitaka Saito[Profile]
Yôiti Suzuki graduated from Tohoku University in 1976 and received his Ph. D. degree in electricaland communication engineering in 1981. His research interests include psychoacoustics and digital
signal processing of acoustic signals. He served as a president of the Acoustical Society of Japan from‘05 to ‘07. He is a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America.
Shuichi Sakamoto graduated from Tohoku University in 1997 and received his Ph. D. degree inelectrical and communication engineering in 2004. His research interests include human auditory andmultisensory information processing and development of advanced multimodal information systems.
[Papers][1][2]

Shuichi Sakamoto, Wataru Teramoto, Yôiti Suzuki and Jiro Gyoba, “Auditory space perception during active/passive
self-motion (invited lecture),” Proc. 9th International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia
Signal Processing (IIH-MSP 2013), IIHMSP-2013-IS12-10 (4 page manuscript) (2013).
Jorge Trevino, Takuma Okamoto, Yukio Iwaya, Yoiti Suzuki, Junfeng Li, “Extraction of horizontal Ambisonics datafrom mainstream stereo sources,” Proc. 9th International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding andMultimedia Signal Processing (IIH-MSP 2013), IIHMSP-2013-IS12-07 (4 page manuscript) (2013).

22

Contact to Professor Yôiti Suzuki : suzuki@ais.riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Human Information Systems Division
Visual Cognition and Systems Laboratory

Understanding human visual system
for the better communication with visual information
Visual Cognition and Systems Satoshi Shioiri, Professor
Cognitive Brain Functions Ichiro Kuriki, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Our target is to understand the vision-related brain functions in order to apply the knowledge
to realize human oriented information communication systems. We made achievements in the fields ofvisuotactile integration, eye-head coordination and haptic mental rotation.
Firstly, we investigated how our body parts successfully interact with objects in the outside
world. We found that a motion aftereffect (MAE) has spatial selectivity in hand-centered coordinates.
This suggests that seeing one’s own body part generates a perceptual representation of the spacecentered on the body part that is useful for guiding the hand movement. Secondly, we investigated how
the eye direction relative to the head influences visual
cognition. Using a visual search task in which attention isrequired, we found that lateral viewing increased the timerequired to find the target compared with front viewing. This
result seems to be consistent with the experience that wemove our head to look at an object. Thirdly, we investigatedthe difference in shape representation between vision andhaptics, using the mental rotation task that participantsrotate an imagery object in the brain. We found different
effects of rotation angle between visual and haptic learning
conditions, suggesting that visual and haptic movement
representations are processed independently.
[Staff]
Professor 㧦 Satoshi Shioiri, Dr.
Associate Professor 㧦 Ichiro Kuriki, Dr.
Figure. Response latencies as a function of rotation angle.
[Profile]
Satoshi Shioiri Professor Shioiri graduated Tokyo Institute of Technology andreceived Dr. Eng in 1986. Then, he was a postdoctoral researcher at University of Montreal until May of 1989. From June of 1989 to April of
1990, he was a research fellow at Auditory and Visual Perception Laboratories of Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute. He moved
to Chiba University at May of 1990, where he spent 15 years as an assistant professor, an associate professor, and a professor of Department of
Image Sciences Department of Image, Information Sciences and Department of Medical Systems. In 2005, he moved to Tohoku University.
Since then, he has been a professor of Research Institute of Electrical Communication of Tohoku University.
Ichiro Kuriki Dr. Kuriki received Dr. Eng. degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1996. After then, he worked at Imaging Science andEngineering Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology as a research associate until October, 1999. He worked as a research associate at the
Department of Mathematical Engineering and Information Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo until March, 2001.
He worked as a researcher in Communication Science Laboratories of NTT Corporation until December, 2005. He joined the Research Instituteof Electrical Communication, Tohoku University as an Associate Professor in January, 2006.

[Papers]
1.

Moving One’s Own Body Part Induces a Motion Aftereffect Anchored to the Body Part. Current Biology 24(2),165-169, 2014. Matsumiya K, Shioiri S

2.

Why Do We Move Our Head to Look at an Object in Our Peripheral Region? Lateral Viewing Interferes with
Attentive Search. PLoS ONE 9(3): e92284, 2014. Nakashima R, Shioiri S

3.

Rotation-independent representations for haptic movements. Scientific Reports 3, 2595; DOI:10.1038/srep02595,
2013. Shioiri S, Yamazaki T, Matsumiya K, Kuriki I

Contact to Professor Satoshi Shioiri : shioiri@riec.tohoku.ac.jp23

2013 Systems & Software Division
Research Targets and Activities of Systems & Software Division The goal of System & Software Division is to realize Ubiquitous environment. In an ideal
ubiquitous environment, everyone can communicate with anybody, anywhere, with any kindof information, at any time, freely and in real time. Our division has the following fiveresearch fields related to such high-level system, software and content by integrating
computer and communication:
 Software Construction: Reliable and high-level software.
 Computing Information Theory: Fundamental theory of new software.
 Communication Network: Symbiotic computing.
 Information Content: Technologies for interactive content.
 Structure of Information Society (Visitor Section).
An overview of research results from Apr. 2013 to Mar. 2014 of these fields except the visitor
section is described in this section.

(1) Software Construction
We have been researching on theoretical foundations for flexible 㩷 yet reliable
programming languages, and have been developing SML#, a new programming language in
the ML㩷 family, that embodies some of our research results. The major results of the 2013
academic year include the following. (1) We showed that a parallelization theorems can beclearly explained in terms of a theory of polymorphic types, and moreover, the theory leads tofurther generalizations of known results. (2) Development of the SML# compiler: We
developed a type theoretical framework for compiling polymorphism into a standard
instruction set and developed a compilation algorithm from SML# to the LLVM intermediate
language. Based on these results, we have successfully completed a new SML# compiler withan LLVM backend.

(2) Computing Information Theory
Rewriting systems are mathematical formalisms which can offer both flexible computing
and effective reasoning with equations.

Our research focuses on theoretical features ofrewriting systems and applications to automated theorem proving, algebraic specifications,and functional and logic programming languages.
follows.

The main results of this year are as(i) We continued to develop an automated confluence prover ACP for term rewriting

systems based on various proof techniques.

In the 2nd confluence competition (CoCo 2013),

ACP has won first place. (ii) We proposed two criteria for confluence of term rewriting
systems based on decreasing diagrams and persistency, which are particular useful for
proving confluence of non-linear systems.

24

2013 Systems & Software Division(3) Communication Network
In a research project of intelligent management support of disaster-resistant ICT unit
based on Active Information Resource, new methods to estimate the logical network andmanage the cooperation among multiple ICT units has been developed. In a research on
design method of the evolutional agent system, a systematic and effective power control
mechanism for portable information devices had been realized and evaluated by using a test
bed system. Moreover, in a research on multiagent-based sensor infrastructure, a newautonomous cooperation method for heterogeneous sensors is proposed and evaluated througha prototype system.

(4) Information Content
We are conducting comprehensive research on a variety of technologies rerated tointeractive content which creates new value through interactions with humans. This year wefirstly proposed using a portable projector in order to create a movable new image within aperspectively corrected multi-display environment where a user can seamlessly interact withdisplayed content across the displays. Secondly, we started a joint research project withindustry in terms of the algorithm to interactively, flexibly, and dynamically display a set of
digital photographs which we proposed last year. Thirdly, we developed a self-actuatedshape-changing digital table named TransformTable, which dynamically changes its shapeaccording to the atmosphere of the conversational space in order to provide comfortablesituation with the participants.

25

2013 Systems & Software Division
Ohori Laboratory

Foundations for Developing High-level and Reliable Programming Languages
Software Construction Atsushi Ohori, Professor
Type Inference[Research Target and Activities]
Today's software systems are becoming more and more complicated㪪㪤㪣㩺㩷㪧㫉㫆㪾㫉㪸㫄due to the need of integrating various computation resources available
in the Internet. A key to control the complexity and to enhance thereliability of such a system is to develop a high-level programming㪫㫐㫇㪼㪄㫊㪸㪽㪼㩷㪝㪝㪠㪧㫆㫃㫐㫄㫆㫉㫇㪿㫀㪺㩷㪩㪼㪺㫆㫉㪻㫊
language that can directly represent various resources andautomatically detect potential inconsistencies among the components㪦㪪㪃㩷㪚㩷㪣㫀㪹㫉㪸㫉㫀㪼㫊in a system. Based on this general observation, our research aims at㪛㪸㫋㪸㪹㪸㫊㪼㫊
establishing both firm theoretical basis and implementation method
for flexible yet reliable programming languages for advanced 5/.CJKIJNGXGNCPFTGNKCDNGNCPIWCIG
applications. Research topics on theoretical foundations include:
logical foundations for compilation, verification of low-level code, and type-directed compilation forpolymorphic languages. We are also developing a new practical ML-style programming language,
SML#, which embodies some of our recent results such as record polymorphism, rank-1 polymorphism,and high-degree of inter-operability with existing languages and databases.
The major results of the 2013 academic year include the following. (1) Developments in theoreticalfoundations: we showed that a sort of parallelization theorems can be clearly explained in terms of atheory of polymorphic types, and moreover, the theory leads to further generalizations of these
theorems. (2) Development of the SML# compiler: we replaced our own native code generator of the
SML# compiler with the LLVM compiler infrastructure. To establish a compilation scheme from SML#
to LLVM IR, we developed a compilation algorithm based on our addtiaional type theoretical analysis
on the treatment of polymorphism in native code.
[Staff]
Professor 㧦 Atsushi Ohori, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor 㧦 Katsuhiro Ueno, Dr.
Assistant Professor 㧦 Akimasa Morihata, Dr.
[Profile]
Atsushi Ohori Professor Atsushi Ohori was born in 1957. He received his BA degree in Philosophy
from University of Tokyo, 1981; received his MSE degree in Computer and Information Science from
University of Pennsylvania, 1986; and received his Ph.D. degree in Computer and Information Sciencefrom University of Pennsylvania, 1989. He worked for Oki Electric Industry as a programmer, aresearcher and a senior researcher from 1981 until 1993. From 1989 until 1990, he spent one year in
University of Glasgow as a postdoctoral research fellow funded by Royal Society Research Fellowship.
In 1993, he joined Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University as an Associate
Professor. In 2000, he joined Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology as a Professor. In
2005, he moved to RIEC, Tohoku University as a Professor.
[Papers][1] Akimasa Morihata, A Short Cut to Parallelization Theorems, In: ICFP'13: Proceedings of the 18th
ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Functional Programming, pp. 245-256, 2013.
[2] Akimasa Morihata, Masato Koishi and Atsushi Ohori, Dynamic Programming via Thinning andIncrementalization, In: Functional and Logic Programming, 12th International Symposium, FLOPS
2014, Proceedings, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 8475, 2014, Accepted.

26

Contact to Professor Atsushi Ohori : ohori@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Systems & Software Division
Computing Information Theory

Towards a New Software Paradigm Arising from Computation and Proof%QORWVKPI+PHQTOCVKQP6JGQT[Yoshihito Toyama Professor
%QORWVKPINQIKECNU[UVGOTakahito Aoto, Associate Professor[Research Target and Activities]
We are working on the development of a new software paradigm that arises from computation and proof.
For this, we focus on a rewriting formalism which offers both flexible and effective reasoning with equations.
In the rewriting formalism, proofs by equational reasoning and computations by rewriting systems can be
combined in a unified framework (see the figure above). We aim at applying our new paradigm to thedevelopment of formal techniques for construction and verification of reliable software. We are currently
working on rewriting theories for termination, confluence, program transformation, and program
verification. Recent research activities include higher-order rewriting systems, automated inductive theorem
proving, combination of functional-logic languages and automated theorem proving systems.

[Staff]
Professor : Yoshihito Toyama, Dr.
Associate Professor : Takahito Aoto, Dr.
Assistant Professor : Kentaro Kikuchi, Dr.
[Profile]
Professor Toyama  Yoshihito Toyama was born in 1952. He received his B.E. from Niigata University in
1975, and his M.E. and D.E. from Tohoku University in 1977 and 1990. He worked as a Research Scientist at
NTT Laboratories from 1977 to 1993, and as a Professor at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science andTechnology (JAIST) from 1993 to 2000. Since April 2000, he has been a professor at the Research Institute ofElectrical Communication (RIEC) of Tohoku University. His research interests includes term rewriting
systems, program theory, and automated theorem proving.
Associate Professor Takahito Aoto Takahito Aoto was born in 1969. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. fromJapan Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (JAIST). He was at JAIST from 1997 to 1998 as an
associate, at Gunma University from 1998 to 2002 as an assistant professor, and at Tohoku University from2003 to 2004 as a lecturer. He has been in Tohoku University from 2004 as an associate professor. His
current research interests include rewriting systems, automated theorem proving, and foundation ofsoftware.
[Papers](1) Takahito Aoto, Disproving confluence of term rewriting systems by interpretation and ordering, In Proceedings of the 9th International
Symposium on Frontiers of Combining Systems (FroCoS 2013), Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Vol.8152, pp.311-326, 2013.
(2) Tsubasa Suzuki, Takahito Aoto and Yoshihito Toyama, Confluence proofs of term rewriting systems based on persistency (in Japanese),
Computer Software, Vol.30, No.3, pp.148-162, 2013.
(3) Kentaro Kikuchi, Proving strong normalisation via non-deterministic translations into Klop's extended -calculus, In Proceedings of the 22nd
Annual Conference of the European Association for Computer Science Logic (CSL 2013), LIPIcs 23, pp.395-414, 2013.

Contact to Professor Yoshihito Toyama : toyama@nue.riec.tohoku.ac.jp27

2013 Systems & Software DivisionCommunication Network

Support for Cooperation and Communication between Human and Systems
Intelligent Communication Tetsuo Kinoshita, Professor
Intelligent Network Gen Kitagata, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
In this year, the following studies have been done. (a) Evolutional Agent Systems: A systematic andeffective power control for portable information devices had been realized by using a test bed
system based on the EAS concept. (b) Knowledge-based Network Management Support System:
Methods for estimation of logical network and cooperation among multiple ICT units has beendeveloped. (c) Management Infrastructure of Heterogeneous Sensor: An autonomous cooperation
method for heterogeneous sensor has been proposed and evaluated through prototype systems.
Life-support

Visualization HEMS

Data mining

Light

Unit B
Data

Self-Connection
SwitchHumidity
ID

Power
Consumption
Acceleration Sensor
Acceleration
Multiagent

Unit A
Knowledge-based Network Management
Support System

Illuminance Humidity Power
SensorSensorSensorMotion Acceleration
SensorSensorMultiagent-based Autonomous Cooperationof Heterogeneous Sensor

Multiagent-based Support for Cooperation and Communication between Human and Systems[Staff]
Professor 㧦 Tetsuo Kinoshita, Dr.
Associate Professor 㧦 Gen Kitagata, Dr.
Assistant Professor 㧦 Hideyuki Takahashi, Dr.
Assistant Professor 㧦 Kazuto Sasai, Dr.
[Profile]
Tetsuo Kinoshita received his B.E. degree in electronic engineering from Ibaraki University, Japan,
in 1977, and M.E. and Dr.Eng. degrees in information engineering from Tohoku University, Japan,
in 1979 and 1993, respectively. His research interests include agent engineering, knowledge
engineering, knowledge-based systems and agent-based systems. He received the IPSJ ResearchAward, the IPSJ Best Paper Award and the IEICE Achievement Award in 1989, 1997 and 2001,
respectively. Dr. Kinoshita is a member of IEEE (SM), ACM, AAAI, IEICE (Fellow), IPSJ (Fellow)
and JSAI.
Gen Kitagata is an associate professor of the Research Institute of Electrical Communication of
Tohoku University, Japan. He received a doctoral degree from the Graduate School of Information
Sciences, Tohoku University in 2002. His research interests include agent-based computing,network middleware design, and symbiotic computing. He is a member of IEICE and IPSJ.

[Papers][1] A. Takahashi, T. Kinoshita, "Dynamic Control and Construction Method for Multiagent Systems
Based on an Evolutional Agent System," IJEIC, Vol.4, No.2, pp.1-20, 2013.
[2] K. Kalegele, J. Sveholm, H. Takahashi, K. Sasai, G. Kitagata, T. Kinoshita, "Multiagent-based
processing and integration of system data," IJISTA, Vol.12, No.2, pp.128-155, 2013.
[3] T. Kato, H. Takahashi, K. Sasai, G. Kitagata, H.-M. Kim, T. Kinoshita, "Priority-Based HierarchicalOperational Management for Multiagent-Based Microgrids," Energies, Vol.7, No.4, pp.2051-2078, 2014.

28

Contact to Professor Tetsuo Kinoshita : kino@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Systems & Software Division
Information Content

Technologies for Interactive Content
Interactive Content Design
Yoshifumi Kitamura,[Research Target and Activities]
Good media content has the power to enrich ourlives. The effectiveness of content delivery is
becoming more and more important in a wide
variety of fields, such as industry, education,
culture, entertainment, and so on. Expectationsof its use in the general public are also
increasing. We focus on non-traditional contents
other than movies, music and games, conducting
comprehensive research on a variety ofinteractive content which creates new value
through interactions with humans. This year we
mainly conduct research projects about dynamic
and a flexible interactive display method, ashape-changing digital table for enhancing
interpersonal communication, and a novel
spatial user interface with portable projector, soon.
[Staff]
Professor: Yoshifumi Kitamura, Dr.
Assistant Professor: Kazuki Takashima, Dr.

Professor

Fig. 1: Direct multi-touch interface on
stereoscopic tabletop display

Fig. 2: Media space for enhanced interpersonalcommunication[Profile]
Yoshifumi Kitamura received B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD. degrees in Engineering from Osaka University in
1985, 1987 and 1996, respectively. From 1987 to 1992, he was at the Information Systems ResearchCenter of Canon Inc. From 1992 to 1996, he was a researcher at the ATR Communication Systems
Research Laboratories. From 1997 to 2002, he was an Associate Professor at the Graduate School ofEngineering and Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University. Since
April 2010, he has been a Professor at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku
University. He is a fellow of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan.
[Papers][1]
Chi Thanh Vi, Kazuki Takashima, Hitomi Yokoyama, Gengdai Liu, Yuichi Itoh, Sriram
Subramanian and Yoshifumi Kitamura, D-FLIP: Dynamic & Flexible Interactive PhotoShow, In
Proceedings of Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology (ACE), pp. 415-427,
2013, Nov.
[2]
Kazuki Takashima, Naohiro Aida, Hitomi Yokoyama and Yoshifumi Kitamura,TransformTable: A Self-actuated Shape-changing Digital Table, In Proceedings of Conferece on
Interactive Tabletop and Surface (ITS), pp.179-187, 2013, Oct.
[3]
Jorge H. dos S. Chernicharo, Kazuki Takashima and Yoshifumi Kitamura, Seamless
Interaction Using a Portable Projector in Perspective Corrected Multi Display Environments, In
Proceedings of Symposium on Spatial User Interaction (SUI), pp.25-32, 2013, Jul.
Contact to Professor Yoshifumi Kitamura : kitamura@riec.tohoku.ac.jp29

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
The Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics of the Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication was established on April of 2004. Its purpose is to develop and establish thescience and technology of nanoelectronics and spintronics for information technology.
Utilizing the facilities installed in the Nanoelectronics-and-Spintronics building and undercollaboration between the RIEC and electro-related laboratories of the Graduate Schools ofEngineering, Information Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, R&D of
nanotechnologies of materials and devices in Nanoelectronics and Spintronics will be
continued extensively. Furthermore, nation-wide and world-wide collaboration research
projects will be conducted to build a systematic database in the electrical communication
research area.
The Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics mainly consists of research groups
which promote following sections: Nano-Integration Devices and Processing,

Semiconductor

Spintronics and Nano-Molecular Devices; together with the groups of Intelligent
Nano-Integration System, Quantum-Optical Information Technology, and Ultra-Broadband
Signal Processing. These groups cooperatively carry out the research aimed at establishing aworld-wide COE in the research area of nanoelectronics and spintronics.

30

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
㩷 Highlights of Research Activities in 2013
Nano Integration
٨ Nano-Integration Devices and Processing (S. Sato and M. Sakuraba)
(1)

Toward the huge integration of neural networks, we have designed a neuron circuit

having large fan-in ability by modifying a majority circuit, which has self-adjusting function
to maximize operating margin, and its successful operation has been confirmed together withdiscrete synapses. We have also implemented a self-oscillating neural network with higher
order synapses using an FPGA, and confirmed that dynamic synaptic weight calculation iseffective for saving memories.
(2) Epitaxial growth of strained Si1-xGex alloy and Ge films on Si(100) using low-energy ECR
plasma CVD without substrate heating has been studied. It is found that reaction rate ratio
for SiH4 and GeH4 is scarcely dependent on Ge fraction in the films, while the reaction rates
tend to increase with increase of the Ge fraction. Moreover, epitaxial growth of highly
strained 11 nm-thick Si0.50Ge0.50 alloy film lattice-matched to Si(100) substrate has beenrealized without substrate heating.
٨ Intelligent Nano-Integration System (K. Nakajima) (1) By using high-order synapses for an inverse function delayed neural network, we set up an
FPGA circuit for traveling salesman and quadratic assignment problems. Furthermore, we
proposed an inverse function delay-less model for high speed numerical calculation of
artificial neural networks, and we applied the model to some problems in TSP-LIB. (2) Weapplied ID networks to development of a hetero-associative memory system. In that system
we obtained large memory capacity and wide basin size. (3) We demonstrated successfully a
4-bit parallel multiplier using a carry look-ahead adder with niobium integrated circuits toimprove the performance of high-speed operation for the SFQ fast Fourier transform, and we
fabricated the central part of an 8-bit parallel multiplier of SFQ system. A neural network
using superconducting quantum interference devices was fabricated and successfully
demonstrated.

Semiconductor Spintronics and Information Technology٨ Semiconductor Spintronics and Nano-Spin Memory (H. Ohno and S. Ikeda)
Our research activities focus on realizing low-power functional spintronic devices. The
outcomes in the last fiscal year are following. (1) Determination of in-plane magnetic fielddependence of electric field-induced magnetization switching probability in a CoFeB-MgO
based magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with a perpendicular magnetic easy axis. (2)Demonstration of in-plane current induced magnetization switching in Ta/CoFeB/MgO
heterostructures. (3) Determination of pulse width and pule amplitude dependence of312013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
current-induced depinning probability of a domain wall in Co/Ni nanowire. (4) Demonstrationof bistable states in the world's smallest MTJ with 11 nm in diameter. (5) Demonstration ofbistable states, high thermal stability, and high tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio in
MTJ using Co/Pt based synthetic ferrimagnetic reference layer structure. (6) Demonstrationof high thermal stability and high TMR ratio in the MTJ using the CoFeB/Ta/CoPt
mulitilayer recording layer structure with 17 nm in diameter.

1. Research activities in "Research and Development of Ultra-low power Spintronics-based
VLSIs" under granted by JSPS through the FIRST program. (1) Determination of scaling
property of MTJ having MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO recording layer structure. (2)Determination of magnetic properties in MgO/Fe(B)/MgO structure. (3) Demonstration of
reduction of damping constant by inserting CoFe(B) layer in FePd/CoFe(B). (4)Observation of possible existence of a metastable superlattice structure of Co/Ni multilayer.
(5) Determination of scaling property of three-terminal device utilizing current-induced
domain wall motion.
2. Research activities in "Research and Development of Spintronics Material and Device
Science and Technology for a Disaster-Resistant Safe and Secure Society" program under
Research and Development for Next-Generation Information Technology of MEXT. (1)Determination of in-plane magnetic field dependence of switching current in CoFeB-MgO
MTJ with perpendicular easy axis. (2) Demonstration of high speed domain wall motion in
20-nm wide Co/Ni nanowire.
٨ Ultra-Broadband Signal Processing (T. Otsuji, T. Suemitsu, and S. Boubanga-Tombet) 
1. Ultra-Broadband Devices and Systems
We are developing novel, integrated electron devices and circuit systems operating in the
millimeter-wave and terahertz regions.

III-V- and graphene-based active plasmonic

heterostructures for creating new types of terahertz lasers and ultrafast transistors aremajor concerns.

By making full use of these world-leading device/circuit technologies, weare exploring future ultra-broadband wireless communication systems as well as
spectroscopic/imaging systems for safety and security.
2. Ultrafast Electron Devices
We are focusing on two important material systems for high-speed and high-frequency
devices: the indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) for ultimately high-frequency operation
including sub-millimeter-wave regime, the gallium nitride (GaN) for high-power
millimeter-wave

applications.

Our

activities

includethedesign,process,andcharacterization of these devices and their integrated circuits.
3. Ultra-Broadband Device Physics
We theoretically and experimentally investigate the physics of plasmonics in III-V

32

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
semiconductor- andgraphene-based heterostructure material systems and their device

applications. Our main goal is to develop new and original plasmonic integrated devices
operating in the millimeter-wave and terahertz regions for the next generation of imaging,
spectroscopy, and ultra-broadband communication systems.
٨ Quantum-Optical Information Technology (K. Edamatsu, H. Kosaka and Y. Mitsumori) 
1. We are experimentally investigating error-disturbance uncertainty relations in quantum
measurements. We have demonstrated in photon polarization measurement that the
Heisenberg error-disturbance uncertainty relation (EDR) is violated while the EDRs
proposed by Ozawa and Branciard hold.
2. We are developing a quantum media converter from a photon to an electron spin torealize a quantum repeater, which is expected to extend the transmission distance ofquantum info-communication. We have demonstrated that (1) the process of state transfer isquantum like by the measurement of electron spin state tomography, and (2) fundamental
experiments for the photonic state transfer to a quantum memory in diamond.
3. We have investigated the excitonic Rabi oscillations in semiconductor quantum dots
using four wave mixing spectroscopy for the development of the optical coherent manipulationof the electric states in the quantum dots. We have observed the interesting behavior of the
Rabi oscillations arising from the longitudinal electric field effect of the excitonic polarizationin the quantum dots.

Nano-Molecular Devices
٨ Nano-Molecular Devices (M. Niwano and Y. Kimura) 
1. In-situ monitoring of adipocyte differentiation by infrared spectroscopy (IRAS): We havesucceeded in real-time monitoring cell differentiation to adipocytes by using IRAS withthe multiple internal reflection (MIR) geometry. We showed that MIR-IRAS has apotential to evaluate antiadipogenic agents in terms of their effects on fat and protein
synthesis during adipogenesis.
2. Development of TiO2 nanotube-based micro-scaled gas-sensor: We have fabricated TiO2
nanotube-based macro-scaled gas sensors by locally anodizing a thin Ti film on glass
substrate. We demonstrated that deposition of metal nanoparticle on the inner wall of
nanotubes improves the sensitivity and gas-discrimination function of the gas sensors.
3. Development of organic/TiO2 hybridized solar cells: We have investigated modification of
TiO2 surfaces used for fabrication of TiO2/polymer hybrid solar cells. We found thatmodification of TiO2 surfaces with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBA) drasticallyincreased the short circuit current of TiO2/P3HT-based hybrid solar cells. Elucidation ofanodization process of titanium.

33

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Nano-Integration Devices and Processing

Nano-integration beyond the existing technology
Nano-Integration Devices

Shigeo Sato, Professor

Group IV Quantum Heterointegration
Masao Sakuraba, Associate Professor[Research Target and Activities]
In addition to the conventional demands such as faster operation and larger throughput, low power
operation for low-carbon emission and robust operation not damaged even in a disaster are required
for the development of the next generation information technology. To meet these demands, studies onhigh functional and high performance Si-based semiconductor devices realized by 3-D nano-processing
and large scale integration of such devices are important research subjects. We study the subjects suchas new transistors and memories using new materials, new devices based on new principles likequantum effects, and required 3-D processing.
Moreover, we develop advanced technologies related
to 3-D nano-integration, dependable mixed signal LSI,
and non von Neumann architecture.
In this year, following experimental results havebeen obtained: (1) A neuron circuit having large fan-in
ability has been designed, and its successful operationin corporation with discrete synapses has been
confirmed. (2) By using low-energy ECR plasma CVD,
epitaxial growth of highly strained Si1-xGex alloy
lattice-matched to Si(100) substrate has been realized
without substrate heating.
[Staff]
Professor :Associate Professor :Assistant Professor:

Towards the Realization of
Shigeo Sato, Dr.
Masao Sakuraba, Dr.
Hisanao Akima, Dr.

a Prototype Brain Computer[Profile]
Shigeo Sato was received his B.E. and Ph.D. degrees from Tohoku University, in 1989 and 1994,
respectively. In 1996, he joined the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University.
Now, he studies brain computer and quantum computer as a professor.
Masao Sakuraba received his B.E. and Ph.D. degrees from Tohoku University in 1990 and 1995,
respectively. In 1995, he joined the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University.
Now, he studies group IV quantum heterointegration as an associate professor.

[Papers][1] “Epitaxial Growth of B-Doped Si on Si(100) by Electron-Cyclotron-Resonance Ar Plasma Chemical Vapor
Deposition in a SiH4-B2H6-H2 Gas Mixture without Substrate”, Y. Abe, M. Sakuraba and J. Murota, Thin Solid
Films, 557, (2014), 10-13.
[2] “Epitaxial Growth of Si1-xGex Alloys and Ge on Si(100) by Electron-Cyclotron-Resonance Ar Plasma Chemical
Vapor Deposition without Substrate Heating”, N. Ueno, M. Sakuraba, S. Sato and J. Murota, Thin Solid Films,
557, (2014), 31-35.
[3] “Nitrogen Doping Effect upon Hole Tunneling Characteristics of Si Barriers in Si1-xGex/Si Resonant Tunneling
Diode”, T. Kawashima, M. Sakuraba and J. Murota, Thin Solid Films, 557, (2014), 302-306.
34

Contact to Professor Shigeo Sato : shigeo@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Semiconductor Spintronics

Advanced technology for spintronics-based devices
Functional Spintronics: Hideo Ohno, Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
We are working on spin-related phenomena insemiconductors,
magnetic
semiconductors,
andmagnetic metals as well as novel functional spinmaterials and devices, in order to realize low-powerfunctional spintronic devices. In particular, we aretackling the following challenges; development offunctional spin materials and structures by using
molecular beam epitaxy and sputtering, understanding
and characterization of spin-related phenomena such as
electric
field-induced
andcurrent-induced
magnetization reversal, development of new spintronic
devices utilizing them, and fabrication of various
prototype integrated circuits employing spintronic
devices.
The outcomes in the last fiscal year are determination of (1) in-plane magnetic field dependence ofelectric field-induced magnetization switching probability in a CoFeB/MgO based magnetic tunnel
junction with a perpendicular magnetic easy axis, (2) in-plane current induced effective fields in
Ta/CoFeB/MgO heterostructures, (3) pulse width and pule amplitude dependence of current-induced
depinning probability of a domain wall in Co/Ni nanowire.
[Staff]
Professor: Hideo Ohno, Dr.
Research Fellow: Norikazu Ohshima, Dr.

Assistant Professor: Michihiko Yamanouchi, Dr.
Research Fellow: Hiroyasu Nakayama, Dr.

[Profile of Professor Hideo Ohno]
Hideo Ohno received Ph. D. degree from the University of Tokyo in 1982. He was with the Faculty ofEngineering, Hokkaido University as a Lecturer (1982) and then as an Associate Professor (1983). He
moved to Tohoku University in 1994 as a Professor. He received the IBM Japan Science Prize (1998),
the IUPAP Magnetism Prize (2003), the Japan Academy Prize (2005), the 2005 Agilent Technologies
Europhysics Prize, Thomson Reuters Citation Laureates (2011), JSAP Outstanding Achievement
Award (2011), and IEEE David Sarnoff Award (2012). He is Institute of Physics (IOP) Fellow (2004),
Honorable Professor at Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, JSAP fellow (2007),and APS fellow (2012), Distinguished Professor at Tohoku University (2008), and IEEE Magnetic
Society Distinguished Lecturer for 2009.
[Papers]
[1]

[2]

[3]

S. Kanai, Y. Nakatani, M. Yamanouchi, S. Ikeda, F. Matsukura, H. Ohno, "In-plane magnetic fielddependence of electric field-induced magnetization switching", Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 103,
072408 (4 pages), August 2013.
C. Zhang, M. Yamanouchi, H. Sato, S. Fukami, S. Ikeda, F. Matsukura, and H. Ohno,"Magnetotransport measurements of current induced effective fields in Ta/CoFeB/MgO", Applied
Physics Express, Vol. 103, 262407 (3 pages), December 2013.
S. Fukami, M. Yamanouchi, S. Ikeda, and H. Ohno, "Depinning probability of a magnetic domain wallin nanowires by spin-polarized currents", Nature Communications, Vol. 4, 2293 (6 pages), August 2013.

Contact to Professor Hideo Ohno : ohno@riec.tohoku.ac.jp35

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Nano-Molecular Devices

Control of surface and interface of molecular informational devices anddevelopment of novel nano-molecular devices
Nano-Molecular Devices: Michio Niwano, Professor
Nano-Electron Devices: Yasuo Kimura, Associate Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Development of the semiconductor nanofabrication technology as typified by photolithography has
miniaturized and sophisticated electronic devices. On the other hand, the progress of nanotechnology
and biotechnology enables us to synthesize and use biological molecules, supramolecules, andnanostructures with electrically and optically unique features.
By combining these technologies, we are aiming to develop
molecular scale devices which allow advanced information
processes.
1) In-situ monitoring of adipocyte differentiation by infrared
spectroscopy (IRAS)
We have succeeded in real-time monitoring cell differentiation
to adipocytes by using IRAS with the multiple internal reflection Bio-sensing system for in-situ(MIR) geometry. We showed that MIR-IRAS has a potential to monitoring of cell activities byinfrared spectroscopy
evaluate antiadipogenic agents in terms of their effects on fat
and protein synthesis during adipogenesis.
2) Development of TiO2 nanotube-based micro-scaled gas-sensor
We have fabricated TiO2 nanotube-based macro-scaled gas
sensors by locally anodizing a thin Ti film on glass substrate. We
demonstrated that deposition of metal nanoparticle on the innerwall of nanotubes improves the sensitivity and gas-discrimination
function of the gas sensors.
3) Development of organic/TiO2 hybridized solar cells
Organic/TiO2 hybridized solar cells
We have investigated modification of TiO2 surfaces used for with TiO2 nanotube.
fabrication of TiO2/polymer hybrid solar cells. We found thatmodification of TiO2 surfaces with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBA) drastically increased theshort circuit current of TiO2/P3HT-based hybrid solar cells.

[Staff]
Professor: Niwano, Michio Dr.
Associate Professor: Kimura, Yasuo Dr.
[Profile]
Michio Niwano 1998 – present RIEC, Tohoku University, Japan, Professor, Doctorate of Science.
Memberships: The Electrochemical Society (ECS), The Japan Society of Applied
Physics (JSAP), The Surface Science Society of Japan (SSSJ).
Yasuo Kimura2010 – present RIEC, Tohoku University, Japan, Associate Professor, Ph. D. Eng.
Memberships: ECS, JSAP, SSSJ.
[Papers][1] Y. Aonuma, Y. Kondo, A. Hirano-Iwata, et al., “Label-free and real time monitoring of adipocyte differentiation bysurface infrared spectroscopy”, Sens. Actuators B 176 (2013) 1176-1182.
[2] Y. Kimura, S. Kimura, R. Kojima, M. Bitoh, M. Abe, and M. Niwano, “Micro-scaled hydrogen gas sensors withpatterned anodic titanium oxide nanotube film”, Sens. Actuators B 177 (2013) 1156-1160.
[3] Ma, Teng; Zhang, Jinyu; Kojima, Ryota; et al., “Investigation of TiO2 Surface Modification with
[6,6]-Phenyl-C-61-butyric Acid for Titania/Polymer Hybrid Solar Cells”, Japanese J. of Appl. Phys. 52(2013) 112301.

36

Contact to Professor Michio Niwano : niwano@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Nano-Spin Memory

Research of spin based device and memory
0CPQ5RKP/GOQT[5JQLK+MGFC#UUQEKCVG2TQHGUUQT[Research Target and Activities]
We are developing technologies to realize advanced spin
memory and logic devices using magnetic tunnel junctions(MTJs). In our group, the following results were obtained.
1) We developed p-MTJs with a double interface
MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO recording layer. The thermal
stability of the p-MTJ with 20 nmI can satisfy application
requirements while maintaining an intrinsic criticalcurrent for spin transfer torque switching. In addition, we
successfully demonstrated bistable states in the world's
smallest MTJ with 11 nmI.
2) We verified bi-stable states of parallel and antiparallel
magnetization configurations in addition to the higher thermal
stability of antiparallel magnetization configuration owing to
reduction of the shift field by adjusting the number of Co/Pt
bilayers in the synthetic ferrimagnetic (SyF) reference layer.
3) We demonstrated thermal stability '= 92 and TMR
ratio = 91% at the same time in the MTJ using the
CoFeB(1.6)/Ta(0.4)/[Co(0.4)/ Pt(0.6)]6 recording layer
structure with 17 nm in diameter.

20 nm
Schematic diagram and SEM image of
perpendicular anisotropy magnetic tunnel
junction (p-MTJ) with double interface
MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO recording layer.

[Staff]
Associate Professor : Shoji Ikeda, Ph.D.
Research Fellow : Tadashi Yamamoto
Research Fellow : Norikazu Ohshima, Ph.D.
Research Fellow : Christopher Eli Enobio, Ph.D.
[Profile]
Shoji IKEDA received the B.S., M.S., and Ph. D degrees from Muroran Institute of Technology,
Muroran, Japan, in 1991, 1993 and 1996, respectively. He was a Research Associate with the
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Muroran Institute of Technology from1996 to 1999. He was with Fujitsu Limited, Atsugi/Nagano, Japan, from 1999 to 2003. He joined
Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, in 2003, where he is currently an Associate Professor. His current
research interests include magnetic metal devices with nanostructures and their application. He
received the Magnetics Society of Japan Distinguished Paper Award in 2003, the APEX/JJAP Paper
Award in 2009, DPS Best Paper Award in 2011, and SSDM Paper Award in 2012.
[Papers][1] S. Ishikawa, H. Sato, M. Yamanouchi, S. Ikeda, S. Fukami, F. Matsukura, and H. Ohno, "Magnetic properties of
MgO-[Co/Pt] multilayers with a CoFeB insertion layer", Journal of Applied Physics, 113, 17C721 (2013).
[2] H. Sato, T. Yamamoto, M. Yamanouchi, S. Ikeda, S. Fukami, K. Kinoshita, F. Matsukura, N. Kasai, and H. Ohno,“Comprehensive study of CoFeB-MgO magnetic tunnel junction characteristics with single- and double-interface
scaling down to 1X nm”, 2013 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), Washington, DC, USA.
[3] Hideo Sato, Shoji Ikeda, Shunsuke Fukami, Hiroaki Honjo, Shinya Ishikawa, Michihiko Yamanouchi, Kotaro
Mizunuma, Fumihiro Matsukura, and Hideo Ohno, "Co/Pt multilayer based reference layers in magnetic tunnel
junctions for nonvolatile spintronics VLSIs", Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 53, 04EM02 (2014).

Contact to Associate Professor Shoji Ikeda : sikeda@riec.tohoku.ac.jp37

2013 Laboratory for Brainware Systems
Laboratory for Brainware Systems

Research Targets and Activities of Laboratory for Brainware Systems
䎃
The Laboratory for Brainware Systems of the Research Institute of Electrical Communication was established in 2004. Its
purpose is to contribute to the research and development of advanced information science and technology for Brainware
systems which realize a seamless fusion of the changeable and complex real world and the cyber space.
We aim at establishing scientific and technological foundations for Real-World Computing (section), New Paradigm VLSI
System (section), Intelligent Nano-Integration System (section), Microarchitecture (section), Cyber Robotics (planned section),and Next-Generation Human Interface (planned section). The Laboratory for Brainware Systems consists of the above six
sections which cooperatively carry out the research. At the same time they serve as a laboratory for nation-wide cooperative
research in the field of Brainware systems.
The technology developed in the Laboratory is expected to enhance the research carried out in the four Divisions of theInstitute, and the research conducted in the Divisions, in turn, is expected to provide scientific basis for the information
technology developed in the Laboratory.

Physical and Adaptive Hardware Environment
࡮Virtual Space Construction
㧔Cyber Robotics㧕

Seamless Fusion of Real Worldand Multi-Modal Computing
࡮Human-Machine Cohabitation
Architecture㧔Next-Generation Human Interface㧕䉟䊮䉺䊷䊈䉾䊃

࡮ Higher-Order Multimodal Perception
and Information Generation
䋨Multi-Modal Computing䋩࡮Real-World Dynamical
Intelligence㧔Real-World Computing㧕Hardware Environment with Massively Parallel Brain LSI
SUM
CLK

VDD
CCK

CLK

S’
A

A’

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Ci

C i’

Ci

S

Co’
A

W
L3

࡮Massively Parallel Neural LSI
㧔Intelligent Nano-Integration System㧕

VDD
CCK
Ci A’

B
CLK
CLK’

BL
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W
L2

W
L1

CARRY
CLK

BL
B
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DCS

B
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DCS

CLK
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Ci’
BL

BL
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L4

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CLK
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࡮Nonvolatile Logic and Its Applications
㧔New Paradigm VLSI System㧕

[Research Target]
Real-World Computing Section: Living organisms exhibit surprisingly adaptive and versatile
behavior in real time under unpredictable and unstructured real world constraints via
spatiotemporal coordination of a significantly large number of bodily degrees of freedom.
Clarifying these remarkable abilities enable us to understand life-like complex adaptive systems
as well as to construct truly intelligent artificial systems. A prominent concept for addressing thisissue is “autonomous decentralized control”, in which non-trivial macroscopic functionalities are
emerged via spatiotemporal coordination among vast amount of autonomous components thatcannot be explained solely in terms of individual functionality. We investigate the design principleof autonomous decentralized systems that exhibit life-like resilient behaviors from the viewpointsof robotics, mathematics, nonlinear science, and physics.
New Paradigm VLSI System Section: Performance degradation of System on a Chip (SoC) or
Network on Chip (NoC) due to wiring complexity, power dissipation and characteristic variation ofmaterials/devices is increasingly getting a serious problem in recent VLSI era. Our research
activity is to solve the above problem by the following two ways: the use of logic-in-memory38

2013 Laboratory for Brainware Systems
architecture based on nonvolatile storage elements combined with CMOS logic, and the use of
asynchronous data-transfer scheme based on multiple-valued current-mode logic, which would
open up a novel VLSI chip paradigm, called a “new-paradigm VLSI system.”Intelligent Nano-Integration System Section: Our research activities cover the fields ofarchitectures of Brain computing systems, characterization and application of artificial neuralnetworks, computer aided designs and fabrications of intelligent integrated circuits, andexploitation of new devices for neural circuits. At present research is focused on the large scale
integration of Brain computing system and exploitations of new neural devices proposing aneuromorphic quantum computation.
[Research Activities]
Real-World Computing Section (Ishiguro Laboratory): The main contributions achieved in 2013
are summarized as follows: (1) we have successfully reproduced the versatile gait patterns ofquadrupeds and the gait transition between them, e.g., from walk to trot to bound, with real
physical robots. To our knowledge, this is the first successful robotic case study that achieves thegait transition ranging from walk to bound gait; (2) we have developed a decentralized-controlled
snake-like robot that exhibits omni-directional locomotion. We have also constructed adecentralized control rule that enables concertina locomotion observed in narrow spaces; (3) wehave discussed the applicability of our CPG model for quadruped locomotion to bipedal andhexapod locomotion; (4) we have modeled a decentralized control rule that can well reproduce theinter-limb coordination of Ophiuroids. This result could be helpful for realizing resilient robotic
systems.
New Paradigm VLSI System Section (Hanyu Laboratory): The major contributions achieved in2013 are summarized as follows: (1) a ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM)-based
hardware called nonvolatile “multi-functional CAM (MF-CAM)” is designed and fabricated for an
ultra-low-energy “full-text search” system in recent data centers. The proposed nonvolatile
MF-CAM-based full-text search engine can perform parallel comparison while eliminatingleakage energy by hierarchical power gating. By the massively parallel comparison with the
hierarchical power gating, energy consumption of the proposed search engine is reduced within
1% in comparison with the conventional CPU-based full-text search system, where repetitive
comparisons between the CPU and a memory consume much energy; (2) a nonvolatile
field-programmable gate array (NVFPGA) test chip with 240 tiles (basic components) in a 12x20
2D-array is designed and fabricated by using 90nm-CMOS and 70nm-magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ) technologies. As a result, both the write-operation power and the total power in the
proposed NVFPGA are reduced to 77% and 70%, respectively, in comparison with that of aconventional MTJ-based NVFPGA, and with that of a conventional SRAM-based FPGA; (3) a new
asynchronous delay-insensitive data- transmission method based on level-encoded dual-rail
encoding with novel packet-structure restriction is proposed to realize a high-throughput
network-on-chip (NoC) router together with a compact hardware. As a result, the proposed
asynchronous NoC router on a 0.13um CMOS technology has a 90% increase in throughput and a
34% decrease in energy dissipation with 25% area overhead in comparison with a conventional
four-phase asynchronous NoC router under a post-layout simulation.
Intelligent Nano-Integration System Section (Nakajima-Sato Laboratory): (1) By using high-ordersynapses for an inverse function delayed neural network, we set up an FPGA circuit for travelingsalesman and quadratic assignment problems. Furthermore, we proposed an inverse function
delay-less model for high speed numerical calculation of artificial neural networks, and we applied themodel to some problems in TSP-LIB. (2) We applied ID networks to development of ahetero-associative memory system. In that system we obtained large memory capacity and wide basin
size. (3) We demonstrated successfully a 4-bit parallel multiplier using a carry look-ahead adder withniobium integrated circuits to improve the performance of high-speed operation for the SFQ fast
Fourier transform, and we fabricated the central part of an 8-bit parallel multiplier of SFQ system. A
neural network using superconducting quantum interference devices was fabricated and successfully
demonstrated.

39

2013 Laboratory for Brainware Systems
Real-world Computing

Toward Understanding Design Principle for Life-like Resilient Systems
4GCNYQTNF%QORWVKPIAkio Ishiguro, Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Living organisms exhibit surprisingly adaptive and versatile behavior in real time under
unpredictable and unstructured real world constraints. Such behaviors are achieved via
spatiotemporal coordination of a significantly large number of bodily degrees of freedom. Clarifying
these remarkable abilities enable us to understand life-like complex adaptive systems as well as toconstruct truly intelligent artificial systems. A prominent concept for addressing this issue is“autonomous decentralized control”, in which non-trivial macroscopic functionalities are emerged via
spatiotemporal coordination among vast amount of autonomous components that cannot be explained
solely in terms of individual functionality. We study the design principle of autonomous decentralized
systems that exhibit life-like resilient behaviors from the viewpoints of robotics, mathematics,
nonlinear science, and physics.

Fig.1: Soft-bodied amoeboid
robot driven by a fully
decentralized control scheme
extracted from true slime moldFig.2: Snake-like robot driven
by a decentralized control thatexhibits
omni-directional
locomotion

Fig.3: Quadruped robot thatexhibits
highlyadaptiveinter-limb coordination.

[Staff]
Professor: Akio Ishiguro, Dr.
Assistant Professor: Dai Owaki, Dr., Takeshi Kano, Dr., Kazuhiro Sakamoto, Dr.
[Profile]
Akio Ishiguro received B.E., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees from Nagoya University in 1987, 1989, and 1991,
respectively. From 1991 to 1997, he was with Nagoya University as an assistant professor. From May
1997 to 2006, he was an associate professor, Nagoya University. From 2006 to 2011, he was a professorof the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University. Since April 2011, he has been a professor of
Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University. His main research interests are in
bio-inspired robotics, nonlinear dynamics. He received 2003 IROS Best Paper Award Nomination
Finalist, 2004 IROS Best Paper Award, 2008 Ig Nobel Prize (Cognitive Science Prize), 2009 IROS Best
Paper Award Nomination Finalist, 2011 IEEE/RSJ NTF Award Finalist for Entertainment Robots andSystems, Living Machines 2012 Best Paper Award.
[Papers]
[㧝]

[㧞]

[㧟]

40

T. Kano, R. Kobayashi, and A. Ishiguro, “Decentralized Control Scheme for Adaptive Earthworm Locomotion
Using
Continuum-Model-Based
Analysis”,
Advanced
Robotics, 28-3,
pp. 197-202(2014)
DOI:10.1080/01691864.2013.861770
T. Kano, T. Kawakatsu, and A. Ishiguro, “Generating Situation-dependent Behavior: Decentralized Control ofMulti-functional Intestine-like Robot That Can Transport and Mix Contents”, Jounral of Robotics andMechatronics, 25-4, pp. 871-876 (2013)
D. Owaki, K. Osuka, and A. Ishiguro, "Stabilization Mechanism underlying Passive Dynamic Running",
Advanced Robotics, 27-18, pp. 1399-1407 (2013) doi: 10.1080/01691864.2013.839087
Contact to Professor Akio Ishiguro : ishiguro@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Laboratory for Brainware Systems
Intelligent Nano-Integration System

Basic Technology of Integrated System for Intelligent Processing
Intelligent Nano-Integration System, Koji Nakajima, Professor[Research Target and Activities]
Our research activities cover the fields of architectures of Brain computing systems, characterization
and application of artificial neural networks, computer aided designs and fabrications of intelligent
integrated circuits, and exploitation of new devices for neural circuits. We also presented a neuralsystem and an FFT operated by using a flux quantum logic in superconducting integrated circuits. At
present research is focused on the large scale integration of Brain computing system.
Research Activities in 2013 : (1)The active area of Inverse function Delayed (ID) models make the stateof network escape from local minima by their destabilization. In computer simulation and theoreticalestimation, we showed that the ID network was capable of converging on optimal solutions only. We
fabricated a prototype chip of the burst ID model and successfully demonstrated operations for solving
combinatorial optimization problems. By using Higher-order Connections for an ID neural network(HC-ID), we theoretically obtained the parameter values that presented only optimal solutions fortraveling salesman and quadratic assignment problems. Furthermore, we proposed a generalizedenergy function for scheduling problems and an Inverse function Delay-Less (IDL) model for highspeed numerical calculation of artificial neural networks.
(2) We applied ID networks to development of an auto- and hetero-associative memory system. In thatsystem we obtained large memory capacity and wide basin size.
(3) We fabricated a neuron circuit using SQUIDs with niobium integrated circuits and successfully
demonstrated. Furthermore, we demonstrated a 4-bit parallel multiplier using a carry look-aheadadder to improve the performance of high-speed operation for fast Fourier transform based on single
flux-quantum circuits and designed an 8-bit parallel multiplier.

[Staff]
Professor : Koji Nakajima, Dr.
Assistant Professor : Takeshi Onomi, Dr.
[Profile]
Koji Nakajima was received his B.E. M.E. and Dr. Eng. from Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, in
1972, 1975, and 1978, respectively. Since 1978, he has been working at the Research Institute ofElectrical Communication, Tohoku University. He is a professor at the same institute of Tohoku Univ.,and is currently engaged in the study of VLSI implementation of neural network, and Josephson
junction devices for digital applications.
[Papers][1]

Y. Tsuji, T. Onomi, and K. Nakajima, “Characteristics of rf-SQUID Ladder Circuits,” Proceedings ofSuperconducting SFQ VLSI Workshop SSV 2013, pp.60-63, Tsukuba, Japan, Nov. 2013.
[2] Takeshi Onomi and Koji Nakajima, "Neuron Circuit Using Coupled SQUIDs Gate with Flat Output Characteristics
for Superconducting Neural Network", IEICE Trans. Electron., E97-C, 3, pp.173-177(2014)[3] A. Yamada, T. Onomi, and K. Nakajima, “Comparative Study of SFQ Parallel Multipliers,” Proceedings ofSuperconducting SFQ VLSI Workshop SSV 2013, pp.78-81, Tsukuba, Japan, Nov. 2013.
[4] K. Nakajima, “Superconducting Multipliers Based on Single Flux-Quantum Circuits,” CNSE and JSPS Core-to-Core
Program Joint Seminar “Atomically Controlled Processing/Nanotechnology for Ultralarge Scale Integration,”Frankfurt Germany, Oct. 2013.

Contact to Professor Koji Nakajima : hello@nakajima.riec.tohoku.ac.jp

41

2013 Laboratory for Brainware Systems
New Paradigm VLSI System Research Group

Realization of a New-Paradigm VLSI-Computing WorldNew Paradigm VLSI System: Takahiro Hanyu, Professor
[Research Target and Activities]
Rapid progress in recent deep submicron regime has led the capability to realize giga-scaled
embedded systems on a chip (SoC), while performance degradation of SoCs due to wiring complexity,
power dissipation and device-characteristic variation are increasingly getting serious problems in the
recent VLSI chip. Our research activity is to solve the above problems primarily by the following two
ways: the use of logic-in-memory architecture based on nonvolatile logic, and the use of asynchronous
data-transfer schemes based on multiple-valued current-mode logic, which would open up a novel
VLSI chip paradigm,called a “new-paradigm VLSI system.”This year, we have succeeded the fabrication of MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction)-based ternary
content-addressable memory (TCAM) chip (Fig.1), reducing the search energy by 99% and thezero-standby power 240-tile FPGA (Fig.2). Furthermore, we have also fabricated the delay-insensitive
asynchronous Network-on-Chip (NoC) router (Fig. 3).
[Staff]
Professor 㧦 Takahiro Hanyu, Dr.
Assistant Professor 㧦 Naoya Onizawa, Dr.

Assistant Professor 㧦 Masanori Natsui, Dr.

[Profile]
Takahiro Hanyu received the B.E., M.E. and D.E. degrees in Electronic engineering from Tohoku
University, Sendai, Japan, in 1984, 1986, 1989, respectively. He is currently a Professor in the
Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University. His general research interests
include multiple-valued current-mode logic and its application to high performance and low-powerarithmetic VLSIs.
[Papers][1] Naoya Onizawa, Shoun Matsunaga, Vincent C. Gaudet, Warren J. Gross and Takahiro Hanyu,
䙼High-Throughput Low-Energy Self-Timed CAM Based on Reordered Overlapped Search Mechanism,”
IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Syst. I, Reg. Papers, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 865-876, 2014.
[2] Naoya Onizawa, Tomoyoshi Funazaki, Atsushi Matumoto, and Takahiro Hanyu, 䙼High-Throughput
Compact Delay-Insensitive Asynchronous NoC Router,” IEEE Transactions on Computers, vol. 63, no. 3, pp.
637-649, 2014.
[3] Noboru Sakimura, Yukihide Tsuji, Ryusuke Nebashi, Hiroaki Honjo, Ayuka Morioka, Kunihiko Ishihara,
Keizo Kinoshita, Shunsuke Fukami, Sadahiko Miura, Naoki Kasai, Tetsuo Endoh, Hideo Ohno, Takahiro
Hanyu, Tadahiko Sugibayashi, “A 90nm 20MHz Fully Nonvolatile Microcontroller forStandby-Power-Critical Applications,” 2014 IEEE ISSCC, Dig. Tech. Papers, pp.184-185, Feb. 2014.

42

Contact to Professor Takahiro Hanyu : hanyu@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Research Center for 21st Century Information Technology
IT-21 center

Research and Development of the IT-Based Practical Technology
by the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration[Research Target and Activities]
The purpose of the IT-21 center is development of practical technologies for IT based on theadvanced technologies of RIEC with the partnership among Industry, Government and University.
The term of development is limited less than 5 years. The projects are planed on matching with bothbasic technologies in the University and application in the Industry. Combination of the technologiesof the University and Industry makes practical technologies with availability for the commercial
products. The center actively accelerates to obtain the intellectual properties generated from thedevelopment of practical technology to the Industry. Presently, two projects for mobile and storage
technologies are being carried out.
1. Development of Dependable Wireless System and Devices
Our new project “Development of Dependable Wireless System and Devices” was accepted in 2007
as the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) CREST type research program “Fundamental
Technology for Dependable VLSI System.” The project has been executed by the collaborations
between RIEC including IT21 mobile wireless technology group, major Japanese mobile terminal
manufacturers and other universities. In this project, concept of Dependable Air, which is multi-mode
and multi-band dependable wireless network, is proposed. Within the term until 2014, the project aims
at DWS (Dependable Wireless System) wireless terminal, in which transmission distance,
communication speed, power consumption, and QoS are all optimized. In 2013 the project attained (1)Proposal of the evaluation concept of ‘wireless dependability’ for wireless communication network, (2)Design and prototyping of the 60GHz beam-forming antenna for millimeter wide-band communication.
2. Development of High Availability Information Storage Systems
Severe information loss took place due to damage of storage servers at the Tohoku Earthquake. We
started research on reliable information storage with smart file backup and restoration, which
contributes to anti-disaster information storage technology. A project “Research and Development onhighly-functional and highly-available information storage technology” supported by MEXT started in2012 under the collaborations of RIEC including IT21 storage technology group, Hitachi, a major
Japanese Storage manufacturer, and Hitachi Solutions East Japan. The goal of the project is thedevelopment of highly functional and highly available storage system. In 2013, (1) From computer
simulations, it was shown that 90 % of information can be available even when a half (50%) servers arelost or damaged, (2) High-speed data-transfer for urgent file backup was investigated byparallel-transfer storage devices and smart-routing network systems, (3) Highly functional
programing frame-work that can access both established relational data-base and key-value store
methods for cloud servers.
[Staff]Director: Hiroaki Muraoka, Professor
Project Planning Division
Makoto Furunishi, Visiting Professor
Technology Development Division (Mobile Wireless Technology Group)
Kazuo Tsubouchi, Visiting Professor
Tadashi Takagi, Visiting Professor
Technology Development Division (Storage Technology Group)
Takaki Nakamura, Associate Professor
43

2013 Research Center for 21st Century Information Technology
IT21 Center Mobile Wireless Technology GroupFor Realizing Dependable Air
Kazuo Tsubouchi, Visiting Professor (Project Leader)
Tadashi Takagi, Visiting Professor
Akinori Taira, Associate Professor
Dependable Air Broadcast
PhysicalDistributionNetwork
TDMA
CDMA
OFDMA
Car䊶ITS[Research Target and Activities]
Distance
Smart Grid
Dependable
Wireless System“Development of Dependable Wireless System
Medical1000m
and Devices” project was accepted in 2007 as
Plant
Wide-area
Wide-area(Cellular)
Agriculture
the Japan Science and Technology Agency
Fishery(JST) CREST type research program.
High data rate
100m
䊶䊶䊶
䊶䊶䊶
䊶䊶䊶
1. All Si CMOS RFIC: For realizing DWS, we
Wireless LAN
Ultra highhave developed a 5GHz- and 60GHz-banddata rate
10m
RF circuits using 90nm CMOS technology.
Short-range
communication
2. Digitally
Assisted
Compensation
Technology: We have developed a novel
100k
10M
100M
1G
1M
10G
Data rate [bit/s]
Broadband
Narrowband
frequency
domainequalizer(FDE)
technology implemented to an application
Fig. Dependable Air
specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
3. Adaptive and Scalable ADC/DAC: We have devised a current mode pipeline ADC, which is suitablefor process miniaturization and low supply voltage.
W-CDMA

PDC cdmaOne

HSPA

cdma2000

Multi-Mode on One-Chip

802.16e802.20LTE

802.11 802.11b

PHS

LTEAdvanced

VHT SG

802.11a/g

Zigbee802.15.4

Bluetooth802.15.1

802.11nmmWave802.15.3c

UWB

RF-ID

Standard
Non IEEEIEEE (IP friendly)[Staff]Visiting Professor: Kazuo Tsubouchi, Ph. D, Tadashi Takagi, Ph. D
Associate Professor: Akinori Taira, Ph. D[Profile]
Kazuo Tsubouchi received the Ph.D. degree in Electronics Engineering from Nagoya University in
1974. In 1974, he joined the RIEC. In 1982, he spent at Purdue University as a visiting associate
professor. From 1993 to 2010, he has been a professor of RIEC. From 2002 to 2010, he has been the
director of IT-21 Center. He is currently a visiting professor. He is a member of the IEEE, the IEICE,
the Physical Society of Japan, the Japan Society of Applied Physics, et al.
Tadashi Takagi received the B.S. degree in physics from Tokyo Institute of Technology and Ph.D.
degree in electronic engineering from Shizuoka University in 1973 and 1995, respectively. In 1973,
he joined the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, where he was engaged in development on microwave
and millimeter-wave circuits technology. From 2005 to 2010, he has been a professor of IT-21 Center.
He is currently a visiting professor. He is a fellow of IEICE and a senior member of the IEEE.
Akinori Taira received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electronics and communication engineeringfrom Waseda University in 1994, 1996 and 2008, respectively. In 1996, he entered the Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation, where he had been engaged in research and development of broadband wirelesscommunication system. He is currently an associate professor of IT-21 Center.

[Papers]
[1]
[2]
[3]

O. Wada et al., “5 GHz-band CMOS direct digital RF modulator using current-mode DAC with idle current,”
IWS2013, WE3B-1, April 2013.
T. Takagi et al., “Dependable air and wireless dependability,” GSMM2013, April 2013 (invited).
Y. Suzuki et al., “Hetero-plane beam synthesis using 60 GHz band 3-D phased array antenna module,” IEEE
RWS2014, MO3A-4, Newport Beach, USA, Jan. 2014.

44

Contact to Professor Tadashi Takagi : t-takagi@riec.tohoku.ac.jp / Professor Kazuo Tsubouchi : tsubo@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Research Center for 21st Century Information Technology
 IT21 Center Storage Technology Group

Realization of Highly-available Storage System
Takaki Nakamura, Associate Professor             Highly-Available Storage System    Application under development for Storage System
[Research Target and Activities]
The Storage Technology Group continue to be engaged in the research and development of storage
technology in a collaboration between industry, academia, and government. Our group successfullycompleted two national projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology from FY2002 to FY2011.
Recently, as social and information systems become more complicated, one of the urgent researchareas in storage, in addition to “devices” and “drives”, is the “system”. Because of this our group
started a new national project “Research and Development on Highly-functional andHighly-available Information Storage Technology” in FY2012. The project will continue until
FY2016. Furthermore, in collaboration with the storage system industry, we will focus on bringing
the results of our research into practical use within five years, which is the prime mission of the
IT-21 center.
[Staff]
Associate Professor: Takaki Nakamura, Ph.D.
Research Fellow: Masachika Harada[Profile]
Takaki Nakamura received B.E, M.E, and Ph.D. in information science from Osaka University in
1996, 1998, and 2011 respectively. He joined Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. in 1998. He
is currently an associate professor at RIEC, Tohoku University. He has been engaged in research on
storage system.
[Papers]
[1]
[2]
[3]

T. Fukatani, K. Matsuzawa, H. Kamei, M. Agetsuma, and T. Nakamura, “A Method for Eliminating Metadata
Cache De-allocation Latency in Enterprise File Servers,” IEEE Trans. Magn. Vol. 49, No. 6, pp.2504-2509, 2013
H. Kamei, T. Nakamura, and N. Komoda, “SDD: Selective De-duplication with Index by File Size for Primary
File Servers,” 2013 Int. Conf. on Computer Design (CDES'13), 2013
S. Matsumoto, T. Nakamura, and H. Muraoka, “Risk-aware Data Replication to Massively Multi-sites against
Widespread Disasters (Best Paper Award),” The 2nd Asian Conference on Information Systems, 2013

Contact to Associate Professor Takaki Nakamura : takaki@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

45

2013 Management Ofﬁce for Health and Safety

46

Contact to : anzen@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Flexible Information System Research Center

Contact to Associate Professor Gen Kitagata : minatsu@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

47

2013 Fundamental Technology Center
Fundamental Technology Center

Supporting research with high-level specialized knowledge and technology

Overview of Fundamental Technology Center[Research Target and Activities]
The Fundamental Technology Center provides a wide range of technical supports for research anddevelopment (R & D) through the following four divisions; machine shop, evaluation, process, andinformation technology.

The activities of the present year are summarized as follows except for thoseof Technical Official F. Saito and Y. Wagatsuma, which are separately described in the sections ofAdvanced Acoustic Information Systems and Dielectric Nano-devices, respectively.
1. Machine Shop Division
The Machine Shop Division supplied machining products of 190, following requests fromresearchers.

About 10 % of the requests were from the outside of the institute.

2. Evaluation Division
23 laboratories utilized evaluation and measurement apparatuses for shared usage (the utilization
time was 4483 hours in total).

Glass processing products of 8 were supplied.

relating to supply of cryogenic liquids were provided.

Several services

8 laboratories used the project clean room

(PCR), a clean room for shared usage, which is operated by this division.
3. Process DivisionThis division supplied electron-beam lithographic products of 139, in cooperation with technicaloffice, Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics.

Technical supports were provided for

operating and maintain clean rooms of Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics.

Customized

optical elements were supplied to 1 laboratories.
4. Software Technology Division.
This division operated the in-house network at the institute and maintained shared-useinformation-equipment, in cooperation with Flexible Information System Research Center.

This

division also engaged in contracting affairs of collaborative research based on intellectual-property
rights and in giving advices to researchers who tried to apply patents.
[Staff]Director (Professor): Yoichi Uehara
Assistant Professor: Nobuyuki Sato
Technical Officials :Koichi Shoji, Tamotsu Suenaga, Maho Abe, Keisuke Sato, Kento Abe, MasahikoSato, Yuko Maruyama,

Yurika Iwami, Iori Morita, Takenori Tanno, Yasuo

Wagatsuma, Shigeto Agatsuma, Fumitaka Saito, Katsumi Sagae, Hiroshi
Watanabe, Munetomo Sugawara, Choichi Takyu,  Setsuko Odagiri, Midori
Suzuki, Keiko Taniguchi,

48

Contact to : eac@riec.tohoku.ac.jp

2013 Center for Spintronics Integrated Systems (CSIS)%GPVGTHQT5RKPVTQPKEU+PVGITCVGF5[UVGOU %5+5 㧨About the Center㧪
Establishment  CSIS was established on March 10th 2010 in order to implement the FIRST Program, “Researchand Development of Ultra-low Power Spintronics-based VLSIs”.
Organization ࡮Director : Hideo Ohno (Professor and Director of RIEC)࡮FIRST Program Operational Support Institution : Tohoku University
࡮Number of Researchers : 30㧔including 17 concurrent appointments㧕
Research Target  CSIS has been assuming a leading role in innovative change by demonstrating the fusion of
spintronics devices and logic integrated circuits, thus aiming at playing a pivotal role in the global innovation cycleof logic VLSIs.
Research Activities㧦Demonstration of ultra-low power and high performance spintronics logic VLSIs by researchand development of spintronics material, device, integration processing, circuit design, and design tools coherently.
㧨Major Achievements in 2013㧪
 In 2013, spintronics-based logic VLSIs composed of millions of transistors and MTJs were designed using ourdeveloped design environment, and fabricated, using 90 nm CMOS technology and the perpendicular easy-axis
MTJs, in order to demonstrate superior performance (chip area ratio × delay time ratio × power consumption ratio҇ 1/64) compared with conventional CMOS technology. The high performance of spintronics-based VLSIs havebeen reported in world-leading international conferences such as IEEE ISSCC, VLSI Symposia and IEDM; thereported VLSIs are the following logic embedded STT-MRAM, non-volatile logic VLSIs general purpose
application, and special purpose application with the Logic-in-Memory (LIM).
࡮Non-volatile 1-Mbit STT-MRAM with high access speed,࡮Non-volatile microcontroller with 64-KByte non-volatile RAM,
࡮Non-volatile Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with LIM architecture,࡮Non-volatile 1-Mbit Content -Addressable Memory (TCAM) with LIM architecture for big-data search.

STT-MRAM㩷

Microcontroller

FPGA㩷

TCAM㩷

CSIS is the world’s first and only spintronics research center with open collaboration. We lead spintronics
technology to apply ultra-low power and high performance logic integrated circuits. Our research achievements in
FY2013 (from April 1st of 2013 through March 31st of 2014) include 52 papers in authoritative academic journals,
223 papers in conferences, 18 and 11 patent applications in Japan and abroad, respectively.

49

2013 Research Organization of Electrical Communication (ROEC)

50

2013 Center for Innovative Integrated Electronics Systems
%GPVGTHQT+PPQXCVKXG+PVGITCVGF'NGEVTQPKEU5[UVGOU㧨Overview㧪Establishment: October 1, 2012 at Aobayama New Campus, Tohoku University
Organization㧦-Director: Tetsuo Endoh (Professor, Graduate School of Eng.㧕
-Staff: about 50 people
Mission: Contribute to the enhancement of global competitiveness in the field of
next-generation integrated electronics systems, and further, work toward the creation ofpractical applications and new industries, through the research and development of innovative
devices and its integrated electronic systems and constructing a consortium for this field under
the international collaboration among industries, universities and government.
Research topics: Research and development by industry-university joint research projects,
national research projects and so on in a wide variety of integrated electronics fields such as fornext-generation semiconductor memory, high-performance printed-circuit board, packaging,and image processing technologies.

㧨Major activities in 2013㧪
In April 2013, the Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems (established in
October 2012) was completed at the Aobayama New Campus, which was funded wholly by theprivate sector. This center has already started industry-university joint research projects in awide variety of integrated electronics fields such as for next-generation semiconductor memory,high-performance printed-circuit board, packaging, and image processing technologies. In thefield of next-generation semiconductor memory, the center has a program for R&D of
spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) where Tohoku University
leads the world. The center was the first among Japanese universities to develop a trial 300
mm-wafer process line and is working on R&D together with domestic and oversea
semiconductor device/equipment companies, universities and research institutions.
It is expected that the center will become a worldwide R&D base for integrated electronic
technologies, and play a leading role in the “Renaissance of Tohoku and Rebirth of Japan”
through various industry-university joint research projects and cultivation of highly talented
human resources in such an environment. Consequently, the center will contribute toenhancing the international competitive power of Japan in this field and create new industries
which will lead to the realization of an energy-saving society in the future.
The center has received official supports from Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City.

51

2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
4. Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
The Institute has a long history of fundamental contributions in many fields of engineering andscience that include the fields of semiconductor materials and devices, magnetic recording, opticalcommunication, electromagnetic technology, applications of ultrasonic, acoustic communication,
non-linear physics and engineering, and computer software. On the basis of this rich historicalbackground the Institute was designated as National Center for Cooperative Research in 1994.
Accompanying Tohoku University’s transformation to “a national university juridical entity” in
April,2004, this institution plays a leading role on the world stage, as its researchers, both domestic
and foreign, continue the task of “investigating the theory and application of universal science andtechnology to realize communication, to the enrichment of humanity.”

In such background, the Institute organizes Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects bycoordinating its activities with research workers. The main themes for Cooperative Research are
selected annually by the Cooperative Research Projects. Committee then invitations for project
proposals and participation are extended to university faculties and government laboratories aswell as industrial research groups. Each project approved by the Faculty Council of the Institute iscarried out by a team of researchers that include members of the Institute as well as outside
participants.
The Advisory Council which includes members from other institutions has an advisory function to
the Director in defining the general direction of the research at the Institute and its Nation-wide
Cooperative Research Projects.
The Project Selection Committee that includes members from the outside of Tohoku University
has a Judging function for project proposals. The purpose of the Project Steering Committee is theproper operation of approved projects.

532013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Nation-wide cooperative research projects list 2013
Project Number
Research Project Theme

Project Leader

Facilitator
in RIEC

Takashi Uchino
Tohoku Institute of Technology

TaiichOtsuji䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋰䋲

Optoelectronic devices using
carbon-based nanomaterials䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋰䋳

Development of the fabrication
Hiroshi Okamototechnique for atomically-controlled SiHirosaki㩷 University
and Ge-MIS structures and theevaluation technique of their interfaces

MichioNiwano䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋰䋴

Highly-Strained and AtomicallyControlled Heterostructure
Formation of Group-IV
Semiconductors and Nanodevice

Masao Sakuraba
Research Institute of Electrical Michio
Communication,
NiwanoTohoku University

Application䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋰䋶

Heterogeneous Network Roaming
Technology for Dependable Air䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋰䋸Noriharu Suematsu
Research Institute of Electrical Noriharu
Communication,
Suematsu
Tohoku University
Haruyuki Kamiya
Graduate School of Medicine,
Hokkaido University

MichioNiwanoFumihiko Hirose
Graduate School ofEngineering,
Yamagata University㩷

MichioNiwanoDevelopment㩷 of magnetic devices
using thin film element with inchlined
stripe magnetic domain and its
applications

Hiroaki Kikuchi
Iwate㩷 University

KazushiIshiyama䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋱䋱Hiroshi㩷 Shigeno
Science and Technology,
Keio Univercity

Gen
Kitagata

Signal transduction of the artificial
neuronal network䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋰䋹

A research on flexible, printableorganic heterojunction photovoltaic
devices䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋱䋰

Research on Infrastructure System for

Cyber-Physical Integrated Society54

2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme䌈䋲䋳䋯䌁䋱䋲

Two-dimensional sound localization
based on a monaural input signal

Project Leader

Facilitator
in RIEC

Masashi Itoh
Tohoku Institute of Technology

Yôiti
Suzuki䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋱

Ryousuke shimizu
Development of ultra-bright entangled The University ofElectro-Communications
photon sources䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋲

Development㩷 of㩷 Solid㩷 Oxide㩷 Fuel㩷
Cells㩷 with㩷 thin㩷 film㩷 electrolyte䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋳

Precise Interface Control of Grapheneand Nano Device Applications䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋴

Basic Study of Plasma
Nanobio-Medicine

Kiyoshi Uchiyama
Tsuruoka National College ofTechnology
Maki Suemitsu
Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication,
Tohoku University
Toshiro Kaneko
Graduate School ofEngineering,Tohoku University

Keiichi
Edamatsu

Yasuo
Cho

Maki
Suemitsu

MichioNiwano䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋵

Development of Highly Sensitive
Sensors Using㩷 Surface Plasmons
Excited on Periodic Structure䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋶

Development of Atomically-Controlled
Plasma CVD Process for Quantum
Heterointegration of Group-IV
Semiconductors

Hiroyuki Odagawa
Kumamoto National College ofTechnology

Yasuo
Cho

Masao Sakuraba
Research Institute of Electrical Michio
Communication,
NiwanoTohoku University䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋷

Device Design, Evaluation andPreparation of Langasite Family
Piezoelectric Single Crystals forHigh-Temperature Acoustic Sensors at
1000͠

Yuji Ohashi
Graduate School ofEngineering,Tohoku University

Yasuo
Cho

H䋲䋴䋯䌁䋰䋸

Yuzo Ohno
Graduate School of Pure andStudy on Electron and Nuclear spins inApplied Sciences,semiconductor nanostructures
University of Tsukuba

Hideo
Ohno

55

2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme
H䋲䋴䋯䌁䋱䋰

THz wave generation and detection
systems using resonant tunnelingdevices䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋱䋱

Distortion of auditory space caused byvestibular information
H䋲䋴䋯䌁䋱䋲A Fundamental Study on an Affective
Networking System䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋱䋳

Fabrication of artificial lipid bilayers
and their application tobio-information devices䌈䋲䋴䋯䌁䋱䋵

Contents-Oriented Computing inSuper-distributed EnvironmentH䋲䋴䋯䌁䋱䋶

Research of Coordination Mechanismof Repository-based Multiagent
Framework for Symbiotic Computing䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰㪈㩷

Fabrication and characterization of
nanometer-scale chalcogenide
structures, and their application tomemory devices

Project Leader

Facilitator
in RIEC

Koichi Maezawa
Graduate School of Science and Taiichi
Engineering for Research,
OtsujiUniversity of Toyama
Wataru Teramoto
Muroran Institute ofTechnology
Masaki Omata
University of Yamanashi

Ayumi Hirano
Graduate School of
Biomedical,
Tohoku University
Jun Munemori
Faculty of Systems
Engineering,
Wakayama University
Takahiro Uchiya
Graduate School ofEngineering,
Nagoya Institute of Technology
Masashi㩷 Kuwahara
National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science andTechnology

Shuichi
Sakamoto

Gen
Kitagata

MichioNiwanoTetsuoKinoshita

TetsuoKinoshita

YoichiUehara䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋲

Yohtaro Umeda
Faculty of Science andStudy on High-Power Terahertz Signal Technology ElectricalEngineering,
Source with InGaAs HEMTs
Tokyo University of Science

Tetsuya
Suemitsu䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋳

Self-assembling formation of highdensity ferromagnetic nanodots bycontrolled alloying of group IV
semiconductors with metals and its
magnetic properties

56

Seiichi Miyazaki
Graduate School ofEngineering,
Nagoya University

MichioNiwano2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋴

Electronic structure and properties offerromagnetic shape memory andother functional magnetic materials䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋵

Implementation of Large Scale
Superconducting Quantum Detectors
for Practical Applications䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋶

High-precision communication systemfor kansei information of speech䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋷

Multi-channel color representation inhuman brain䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋸

Development of speech processing
technology by nonlinear time-varying
auditory representation

Project Leader

Facilitator
in RIEC

Shin Imada       College of Science andEngineering,       
Ritsumeikan University

Masafumi
Shirai

Satoshi Kohjiro
National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science andTechnology
Akihiro Tanaka
Tokyo Woman's Christian
University
Ichiro Kuriki
Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication,
Tohoku University
Masanori㩷 Morise㩷Interdisciplinary Graduate
School of medicine andEngineering,
University of㩷 Yamanashi

Shigeo㩷Sato

Sakamoto
Shuichi

IchiroKuriki

Yôiti
Suzuki䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋰䋹

Ko Sakai
Faculty of Engineering,
Study of the cooperative environment
Information and Systems,
for building visual cognition models
University of Tsukuba

Satoshi㩷Shioiri䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋱䋰

Takao㩷 Tsuchiya
Faculty of Science andEvaluation of sound field rendering
using a surrounding loudspeaker array Engineering,        Doshisha University
system䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋱䋱

Study of Information Principle ofBrainware and its applications䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋱䋲

Heterarchical analysis of adaptability
under indeterminacy and its
technological applications䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋱䋳

Interpersonal Communications in aMedia Space

Toshiyuki Kanoh
NEC㩷 Corporation
Tatsuji Takahashi
School of Science andEngineering,        Tokyo Denki University
Ikuo Daibo
Motivation and Behavioral
Sciences,Tokyo Future University

Yôiti
Suzuki
Koji
Nakajima
KazutoSasai

Yoshifumi
Kitamura57

2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋱䋴

An Intelligent Sensing Environmentfor Smart Aging䌈䋲䋵䋯䌁䋱䋵

Study on knowledge acquirement in
information networks for agent-based
management system

Project Leader

Zixue Cheng
School of Computer Scienceand Engineering,
The University of Aizu
Yukio Iwaya
Faculty of Engineering,Tohoku Gakuin
Univercity

Facilitator
in RIECGen
Kitagata

Gen
Kitagata䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋲

Heiji Watanabe
Research on the new concept large
Graduate School ofscale memory and its system withintegration of nano materials on silicon Engineering, Osaka University
technology䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋳
Kikuo Yamabe
Graduate School of Pure andResearch on nano semiconductormaterials and nano structured devices Applied Sciences,
Tsukuba University
required for future electronic systems䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋴
Kazushi㩷 Ishiyama
Research Institute of Electrical
New Technologies for Reducing Iron
Communication,
Loss of Electrical Steels
Tohoku University

Hideo
Ohno

Hideo
Ohno

KazushiIshiyama䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋵

Shin-ichiro Umemura
Graduate School of
Study of functional piezoelectricmaterials and applications to advanced Engineering,Tohoku University
communication devices

Yôiti
Suzuki䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋶

Ultrafast Coherent Lightwave
Control Technologies for Ultimate
Communication and Measurement
Systems䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋸

Passive/Active Circuit Technologies
and Their Applications
for Next Generation RFIC䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋰䋹

Multisensory integration involving
self-body motion

58

Hidemi Tsuchida
National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science andTechnology

Masataka㩷
Nakazawa

Toshio㩷 Ishizaki
Faculty of Science
And Technology,
Ryokoku㩷 University

Noriharu
Suematsu

Kenzo㩷 Sakurai
Faculty of liberal arts,
Tohoku㩷 Gakuin㩷 University

Yôiti
Suzuki2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme䌈䋲䋳䋯䌂䋱䋱

Foundation of Dependable Cloud
System with a Highly Reliable
Programming Language System䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋱

Fundamental characteristics andapplications in innovative functionaland reactive field generated withvarious plasma flow䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋲

Unlicensed Band WirelessCommunications䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋳

Problems and perspectives ofintelligent nano integrated system

Project Leader

Facilitator
in RIEC

Kazuhiko㩷 Kato
Graduate School of Systems
and Information Engineering,
Tsukuba University

Atsushi
Ohori

Akira㩷 Ando
Graduate School ofEngineering,Tohoku University

Maki㩷
Suemitsu

Shuzo Kato
Research Institute of Electrical Shuzo
Kato
Communication,
Tohoku University
Yoshihiro Hayakawa
Sendai National College ofTechnology

Yoshifumi Kitamura
Research Institute of ElectricalEntertainment Computing for Creative Communication,
Rejuvenation
Tohoku University䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋶
Yoshifumi Kitamura
Research Institute of Electrical
A New Academic Association for HCICommunication,in the Asia-Pacific Region
Tohoku University䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋷
Toshio Ogino
Yokohama National
Functionalization of oxide surfaces and University,
Graduate School of
its application to nanodevices
Engineering䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋵

䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋸

Research on planar measurement
techniques for earthquake, tsunami,
and crustal deformation using
optical-fiber networks䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋰䋹

Control of Large Degree-of -Freedom
System Inspired from Animal
Locomotion䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋱䋰

Computational Ability of
High-Dimensional Neural Network

Koji
Nakajima

Yoshifumi
Kitamura

Yoshifumi
Kitamura

MichioNiwanoMasato Araya
Earthquake ResearchInstitute,
The University of Tokyo

Masataka
Nakazawa

Ryo Kobayashi
Graduate School of Science,
Hiroshima University

Akio
Ishiguro

Akira Hirose
Graduate School ofEngineering,
The University of Tokyo

ShigeoSato59

2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋱䋱

Study of human perceptual/cognitiveand decision processes䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋱䋲

Evolution of elementary technologies
of high performance Computing fornational security needs

Project Leader

Facilitator
in RIEC

Ken-ichiro Tsutsui
Graduate School ofLife Sciences,
Tohoku University

Satoshi
Shioiri

Yoshihiko Orita
㩷㩷㩷Japan Marine Science
Fundation

TakahiroHanyu䌈䋲䋴䋯䌂䋱䋳

Akira NishimuraStudies on enrichment technologies for Tokyo University ofInformation Sciences
digital contents

Yôiti
Suzuki䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋱

Shintaro Nomura
New Principle Nano Devices Based on Graduate School of Pure andPrecision Control and Observation of Applied Sciences,
University of Tsukuba
Spin Fluctuation and Correlations䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋲
Masaharu Shiratani
Graduate School and Faculty ofInformation Science andFabrication of novel nano-materials
Electrical Engineering,based on fine particle plasma physics
Kyushu University䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋳

Research in magnetic materials andmagnetic devices for advanced
communications equipment䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋴

Physics and applications ofelectric-field control of magnetism䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋵

Novel photonics and nano photonic
informatic

Takeshi Yanai
Graduate School ofEngineering,Nagasaki University
Masafumi Shirai
Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication,
Tohoku University
Takashige Omatsu
Graduate School of Advanced
Integration Science,
Chiba University

Hideo
Ohno

MichioNiwanoKazushiIshiyama

Masafumi
Shirai

Keiichi
Edamatsu䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋶

Research on Electromagnetic Wave
Technologies for Low-Carbon Energy
Society60

Takashi Ohira
Toyohashi Univercity ofTechnology

Noriharu
Suematsu

2013 Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects
Project Number
Research Project Theme䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋷

Studies on cortical mechanisms forvisual perception of object-surface
attributes䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋸

Understanding of human adaptive
motor function based on the concept ofembodiment䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋰䋹

Development and Civilian Use of
Microwave and Laser Aided Synthetic
Aperture Radar

Project Leader

Katsunori Okajima
Graduate School ofEnvironment and Information
Sciences,
Yokohama National University

Facilitator
in RIEC

IchiroKurikiToshiyuki Kondo
Akio
Tokyo University of Agriculture
Ishiguro
and Technology
Atsushi Mase
Art, Science and technology
Center for Cooperative
Research,
Kyushu University

HiroshiYasaka䌈䋲䋵䋯䌂䋱䋰

Yukiyoshi Kameyama㩷Graduate School of Systems
Logical Approach to Metaprogrammingand Information Engineering,
University of Tsukuba㩷䌈䋲䋳䋯䌓䋰䋱

Development of essential technologies
directed to systematization ofsuperhivision䌈䋲䋳䋯䌓䋰䋲

Spintronics International Alliance䌈䋲䋳䋯䌓䋰䋳

Collaborative Research on
Nano-electronics

Yoshihito
ToyamaHidenori Mimura
Shizuoka University
Research Institute ofElectronics

Yôiti
Suzuki

Kohei Itoh
Keio University Science andTechnology

Hideo
Ohno

Tetsuya Osaka
Waseda University.
Institute for Nanoscience &Nanotechnology

MichioNiwano䌈䋲䋴䋯䌓䋰䋱

Takashi Washio
Empathic Computing System based on The Institute of Scientific andIndustrial Research (ISIR)an innovative new concept associatedOsaka University
with human functions

Yoshifumi
Kitamura61

2013 Symposium
5. Symposium organized by the InstituteThis Symposium is planned to exchange relevant information on current important
topics concerning Electrical Eng., Electrical Communications, Electronic Eng., andInformation Eng. Many related researchers inside and outside Tohoku University
participate the Symposium and stimulate discussion.

Symposium In Past㩷 㩷 Title
1

Date

Quantum Electronics of Liglht Waves and Micro Waves

Feb. 6- 8, 1964

Magnetic Recording

Feb.14-15, 1964

2 Ultra-High Frequency Acoustelectronics

Feb.11-12, 1965

3 Artificial lntelligence

Mar. 8- 9, 1966

4 Thin Film Electronics

Jan.26-27, 1967

5 Crystal GrowthDec. 19-20, 1967

6 1968 Sendai Svmoosium on Acoustelectronics

Aug.19-20, 1968

7 Current Status and Future Trends of Superconductivitv

Jan.22-24, 1970

8 Soeech Information Processing

Feb.24-26, 1971

9 Surface Acoustic Wave Technology

May 25-26, 197210

Liquid Crystals · Their Molecular Orientations and Application to
Display Devices

11 Computer Network
12

The Memorial Symposium on the 40th Anniversarv of the Foundation of
RIEC

Dec.13-14, 1974
Mar.17-18, 1975
Sep.25-26, 1975

13 Application of Amorphous Ferromagnetic Materials

Mar.10-11, 1977

14 Stoichiometry of Compound Crystals

Nov.24-25, 1977

15 Submillimeter Waves

Nov.16-17, 1978

16 Solid State Chemical Sensors

Feb. 1- 2, 1980

17 Graph Theory and Algorithms

Oct.24-25, 1980

18 Perpendicular Magnetic Recording

Mar.11-12, 1982

19 Approach to Optical Computer

Mar.10-11, 1983

20 Plasma Non-Linear Phenomena - Basic Problems for Fusion Plasmas

Mar. 8- 9, 1984

21 New Computer Architecture

Jul.25-26, 1985

22 Guided Wave Technology and Its Application at Mid-Infrared

Mar.13-14,1986

23 Physics and Applications of Tunnelling Phenomena

Mar.12-14, 1987

24 Biomagnetics and Bioelectronics

Feb.26-27, 1988

25 Ultrasonic Electronics - New Applications of Piezoelectricity

Feb. 2- 3, 1989

26 Boundaries between Light and Electromagnetic Wave

Feb. 1-2, 1990

63

2013 Symposium
27 Issues and Realization of Pattern Recognition and Understanding

Feb.28-Mar.1,1991

28 Discrete Algorithms

Oct.17-18, 1991

29

Perspective for New Computing Paradigm

Feb. 4- 5, 1993

Current Status and Future Prospects of System Control

Mar. 3- 4, 1993

30 Future Prospects of Electron Beam Devices

Nov. 1- 2, 1993

31 Discharge and EMC

Dec.20-21, 1994

32 Statistical Physics and Information Science

Mar.22-23,1995

33 Photo-and Plasma-Excited Processes on Surfaces

Nov.30-Dec.1,1995

34 Nano Spinics and Power Electronics

Feb.15-16, 1996

35 Potential Formation and Related Nonlinear Phenomena in Plasmas

Sep.17-19, 1996

36 New Trend in Ultrasonic Measurements

Feb. 3- 4, 199737

Toward the Realization of the High-Definition Multi-Media
Communication

64

Nov. 4- 6, 1997

2013 SymposiumInternational Symposium Organized by the Institute
Title

㩷
1
2

Intrinsic Josephson Effect and THz Plasma Oscillation in High Tc
Superconductors
Design and Architecture of Information Processing Systems Based on
The Brain Information Principle

3 Novel Techniques and Applications of Millimeter-Waves
4
5

The International Joint Conference on Silicon Epitaxy andHeterostructures
International Workshop on Photonic and Electromagnetic Crystal
Structures

Date
Feb.23-25, 1997
Mar.16-18, 1998
Dec.14-16, 1998
Sep.13-17, 1999
Mar.8-10, 2000

6 Physics and Application Spin Related Phenomena in Semiconductors

Sep.13-15, 2000

7 Rewriting in Proof and Computation

Oct.25-27, 2001

8 Nonlinear Theory and its Applications

Oct.28-Nov.1,
2001

9 New Paradigm VLSI Computing

Dec.12-14, 2002

10 Ultra High Density Spinic Storage System

Oct.23-24, 2003

11 3rd International Workshop on New Group IV (Si-Ge-C) Semiconductors

Oct.12-13, 2004

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

3rd International Workshop on High Freaqency Micromagnetic Devices
and Materials (MMDM3)
4th International Conference on Silicon Epitaxy and Heterostructures(lCSl-4)
1st International WorkShop on New Group IV Semiconductor
Nanoelectronics
GSIS International Symposium on Information Sciences of New Era:
Brain, Mind and Society
The 1st RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics -Spin Transfer
Phenomena4th International Workshop on High Frequency Micromagnetic Devices
and Materials (MMDM4)
4th International Conference on Physics and Applications of
Spin-Related Phenomena in Semiconductors (PASPS-lV)
2nd International Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor
Nanoelectronics

Apr.11-12, 2005
May 23-26, 2005
May 27-28. 2005
Sep.26-27, 2005
Feb.8-9, 2006
May 8,2006
Aug.15-18,2006
Oct.2-3,2006

20 2nd RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics

Feb.15-16,2007

21 Japan-China Joint Conference on acoustics, JCA2007

Jun.4-6,2007

22

International Conference on Discovery Science/
International Conference on Algorithmic Learning Theory

Oct.1-4,2007

65

2013 Symposium
23 The 3rd RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics
24

3rd International Workshop on New Group 㸊Semiconductor
Nanoelectronics

25 International Workshop on Nanostructures & Nanoelectronics

Oct. 1Nov.1,2007
Nov.8-9,2007
Nov.21-22,2007

The 18th International Symposium on Algorithms andDec.17-19,2007
Computation(ISAAC2007)
International Interdisciplinary-Symposium on Gaseous and Liquid
Sep.5-6,2008㩷
27㩷
Plasmas (ISGLP 2008)㩷
4th International Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor28㩷
Sep.25-27,2008㩷
Nanoelectronics㩷
26

29㩷 The 4th RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics㩷

Oct.9-10,2008

30 Global Symposium on Millimeter Waves 2009 (GSMM2009)

Apr.20-22,2009

31 Mini R.I.E.C. workshop on multimodal perception

Apr.24,200932 The 4th International Symposium on Ultrafast Photonic Technologies

Aug.4-5,2009

PIMRC2009 Personal Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications
Symposium 2009
2nd RIEC-CNSI Workshop on Nanoelectronics,Spintronics and Photonics
34(5th RIEC Symposium on Spintronics)
International Workshop on the principles and applications of spatial
35
hearing 2009 (IWPASH2009)
5th International Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor
36
Nanoelectronics
33

Sep.13-16,2009
Oct.22-23,2009
Nov.11-13,2009
Jan.29-30,2010

37 6th RIEC International on Spintronics

Feb.5-6,2010

38 2nd International Workshop on Nanostructure & Nanoelectronics

Mar.11-12,2010

39 2nd RIEC International Symposium on Graphene Devices (ISGD2010)

Oct.27-29,2010

40 9th Japan-Korea Symposium on Surface Nanostructures

Nov.15-16,2010

41 The 7th RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics

Feb.3-4,2011

42

The 42nd RIEC International Symposium             

Oct.17-20,2011

12th International Multisensory Research Forum (IMRF2011)
43 The 8th RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics

Feb.2-3,2012

44 The Sixth International Symposium on Medical, Bio- and Nano-Electronics

Mar.8,2012

45 3rd International Workshop on Nanostructures & Nanoelectronics

Mar.21-22,2012

46 9th RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics

May 31Jun.2,2012

47

The 1st International Workshop on Smart Technologies for Energy,

Oct.18-19,2012

Information and Communication (STEIC2012)
48 Technical University of Dresden and Tohoku University Symposium 2012 Nov.2,2012

66

2013 Symposium
49

The 1st RIEC International Symposium on Brain Functions and Brain

Computer
Tohoku – Harvard Joint Workshop New Directions in Materials for
50 anoelectronics,Spintronics and Photonics
㧔10th RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics㧕
11th RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics &51
3rd CSIS International Symposium on Spintronics-based VLSIs

Nov.15-16,2012

Jan.15-16,2013

Jan.31-Feb.1,2013

52 7th International Symposium on Medical, Bio- and Nano-Electronics

Mar.7,2013

53 6th Global Symposium on Millimeter Wave 2013

Apr.22-23,2013

54

The 2nd RIEC International Symposium on Brain Functions and Brain

Feb.21-22,2014

Computer
55 8th International Symposium on Medical,Bio- and Nano-Electronics

Mar.6-7,2014

56 5th International Workshop on Nanostructures and Nanoelectronics

Mar.6-7,2014

67

2013 Study Groups on Electrical Communication
6.

Study Groups on Electrical Communication

Study Groups on Electrical Communication are organized to solve scientific and technologicalproblems and to promote research and development through the collaboration of the ResearchInstitute of Electrical Communication, Depts. of Electrical Eng., Electrical Communications,Electronic Eng., Information Eng., and related scientists and engineers inside and outside Tohoku
University. The Study Groups on Electrical Communication consist of 15 Sub-Groups as listed
below, to deal with specific subjects. Each Sub-Group holds workshops. The abstracts of theworkshops are published annually in The Record of Electrical and Communication Engineering

Conversazione Tohoku University.
Many scientists and engineers㧙not only from universities but also from government laboratories
and industries㧙attend the workshops, present papers, and discuss issues actively. We are pleased
to provide information on these activities upon request. Please contact each Sub-Group Chairman
or manager for general information or more specific questions.

Electromagnetic and Optical Waves Engineering
Chair

Prof.

Manager

Associate Prof. 

Yuji Matsuura
Takashi Katagiri

Acoustic Engineering
Chair

Prof. Akinori Ito

Manager

Associate Prof. 

Shuichi Sakamoto

Sendai "Plasma Forum"
Chair

Prof. Akira AndoManagerProf.  Toshiro Kaneko

Sendai Seminar on EMC
ChairProf. Hideaki Sone

ManagerProf. Masahiro Yamaguchi

69

2013 Study Groups on Electrical Communication
Computer Science
Chair

Prof. Ayumi Shinohara

Manager

Associate Prof.  Eijiro Sumii

Systems Control
Chair

Prof. Makoto Yoshizawa

Manager

Associate Prof.  Noriyasu Homma

Information-biotronics
Chair

Prof. Michio Niwano

ManagerProf. Tatsuo Yoshinobu

Spinics
Chair

Prof. Masahiro Yamaguchi

Manager

Associate Prof.  Fumihiro SatoManager

Assistant Prof.  Yohei Shiokawa

New Paradigm Computing
Chair

Prof. Takahiro Hanyu

Manager

Associate Prof.  Naofumi Homma

Ultrasonic Electronics
Chair

Prof. Shin-ichiro Umemura

Manager

Associate Prof.  Shin Yoshizawa

70

2013 Study Groups on Electrical Communication
Brainware
Chair

Prof. Koji Nakajima

Manager

Assistant Prof. Takeshi Onomi

Mathematical Physics and its Application to Information Sciences
Chair

Prof. Kazuyuki Tanaka

Manager

Associate Prof. Yuji Waizumi

Biocybernetics and Bioinformatics
Chair

Prof. Satoshi Shioiri

Manager

Associate Prof.  Takeshi Obayashi

Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Chair

Prof. Shigeo SatoManager

Associate Prof.  Yasuo Kimura

Advenced Information Communication Engineering
Chair

Prof. Tetsuo Kinoshita

ManagerProf.  Takuo Suganuma

71

2013 International Activities
7.

International Activities

Many of the staff in RIEC contribute to the development of technology and science inthe world by serving as editors of referees of international journals or by chairing or
programming international conferences. In some fields in electronics, electricalcommunications, or information engineering RIEC serves as a Center of Excellence(COE), which attracts many visiting researchers and students from all over the world
every year. Several academic exchange programs with foreign colleges or institutes arein operation.
International academic exchange programs:
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z

The Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)
The Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorm University (Thailand)
Harbin Institute of Technology (China)
The James Frank Institute, The University of Chicago (U.S.A.)
Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London (U.K.)
Scientific Research Department, Shenzhen University (China)
Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Sung-Kyun-Kwan University (Korea)
Institute of Materials Science, Faculty of Applied Physics, University of Twente (Netherlands)
The Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia)
Department of Electronics Science and Engineering, University of Nanjing (China)
School of Computer and Communication Engineering, Taegu University (Korea)
The Interdisciplinary Center on Nanoscience of Marseille, National Center of Scientific Research (France)
IHP-Innovations for High Performance microelectronics (Germany)
Institute of Semiconductors Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
WINLAB, Rutgers University (U.S.A.)
University of Vigo (Spain)
State University of New Nork (U.S.A)
Department of Physics, National Sun Yat-Sen Univesity (Taiwan)International journals in which a staff in RIEC participates as an editor:
1 Acoustical Science and Technology
2 ACTA ACUSTICA (Chinese version)
3 Applied Intelligence: International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks,
andComplex Problem-Solving Technologies
4 Asian Journal of Computer Sciences
5 Frontiers in Virtual Environments (a section of Frontiers in Robotics and AI)
6 Higher-order and symbolic computation
7 IEICE Electronics Express
8 International Journal of Energy, Information and Communication
9 International Journal of Information Sciences and Computer Engineering
10 International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security
11 Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
12 Journal of Magnetics, Korean Magnetics Society
13 Journal of SPIN
14 Nature Communications
15 Neural Networks

73

2013 International Activities
16
17
18
19

NPG Asia Materials
Optical Fiber Technology
Optical Review
The Journal of Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds(John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
20 Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science and Technology
Recent international conferences programmed by a staff in RIEC:
1 12th International Conference on Atomically Controlled Surfaces, Interfaces andNanostructures (ACSIN)
2 13th International Ceramics Congress, 6th Forum on New Materials, and 5thInternational Conference Novel Functional Carbon Nanomaterials (CIMTEC2014)
3 18th International Conference on Electron Dynamics in Semiconductors,
Optoelectronics and Nanostructures (EDISON)
4 2013 Spintronics Workshop on LSI
5 2014 International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics/The 9th Asia-Pasific
Microwave Photonics Conference(NWP/APMA2014)
6 20th International Conference on Electronic Properties of Two-Dimensional Systems(EP2DS-20) and 16th Modulated Semiconductor Structures (MSS-16)
7 24th MAGNETIC RECORDING CONFERENCE (TMRC2013)
8 25th International Conference on Indium Phosphide and Related Materials (IPRM)
9 32nd Electronic Materials Symposium (EMS)
10 3DUI 2013 International Symposium on 3D User Interface
11 3rd Berkeley Symposium on Energy Efficient Electronic Systems
12 5th International Conference on Recent Progress in Graphene Research (RPGR)
13 6th Global Symposium on Milli-Meter Waves (GSMM)
14 7th International School and Conference on Spintronics and Quantum Information
Technology (SPINTECH VII)
15 7th Terahertz Days/GDR-I Workshop
16 8th International Symposium on Metallic Multilayers (MML2013)17 ACM SIGGRAPH Asia
18 ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2013:
The 6th SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics andInteractive Techniques in Asia 201319 ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2014:
The 7th SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics andInteractive Techniques in Asia 2014
20 ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST)
21 Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision (APCV) 201422 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC)
23 Asia-Pacific Workshop on Fundamentals and Applications of Advanced Semiconductor
Devices (AWAD)
24 Eurographics Workshop on Virtual Environment (EGVE)
25 European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC)
26 European Solid-State Device Research Conference (ESSDERC)
27 IEEE International Symposium on Asynchronous Circuits and Systems
28 IEEE International Symposium on Multiple-Valued Logic
29 IEEE 3rd Global Conference on Consumer Electronics (GCCE2014)74

2013 International Activities
30 IEEE Computer Society
31 IEEE International Symposium on Asynchronous Circuits and Systems
32 IEEE International Symposium on Multiple-Valued Logic
33 IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces(3DUI)
34 International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)Human-Computer
Interaction (TC-13 )35 International Conference on Optical Terahertz Science and Technology (OTST)
36 International Conference on Artificial Reality and Tele-existence (ICAT)
37 International Conference on Indium Phosphide and Related Materials (IPRM)
38 International Conference on Optical, Optoelectronic and Photonic Materials andApplications (ICOOPMA)
39 International Electron Device Meeting (IEDM)
40 International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC), Program Subcommittee
Member for Quantum Information
41 International SiGe, Ge, & Related Compounds: Materials, Processing, and Devices
Symposium
42 International Symposium on Advanced and Applied Convergence
43 International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors (ISCS)
44 International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and Its Applications
45 SPIE International Conference on Defense, Security, and Sensing
46 SPIE Photonics West, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices
47 Technical Committee of Multiple-Valued Logic, IEEE Computer Society
48 The IEEE/WIC/ACM International Joint Conference on Web Intelligence andIntelligent Agent Technology (WI-IAT2014)
49 The International Conference Industrial & Engineering Applications of Artif. Intell. &Exp. Systems (IEA/AIE2014)
50 The International Conference on Smart Technology for Energy, Information andCommunication (IC-STEIC2014)
51 The International Multisensory Research Forum
52 Topical Workshop on Heterostructure Microelectronics (TWHM)

75

2013 Periodicals Published by the Institute
8. Periodicals Published by the Institute

The Institute publishes the following two periodicals to inform readers on recent research results of
the Institute.

1. The Record of Electrical and Communication Engineering Conversazione Tohoku University

This journal aims at providing an opportunity to publish research results of the Institute as well as
the result of the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Communication Engineering, Electronics
Engineering, and Information Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering. Since the journal also aims
at publishing general research activities of the Institute and of the Departments such as records of the
final lectures of retiring professors, records of the Institute Symposium, and reviews.

The name of the Journal ‘Conversazione’ is attributable to the ‘Tuesday Conversazione’ at the
Department of Electrical Engineering, which had been held once a week on Tuesday since around 1920.
Minutes of the meetings had been distributed to researchers outside of the University via various
routes and therefore some of them had been referred to as 'Records of Tuesday Electrical Engineering
Conversazione Tohoku University' with the result that they came to be treated as official publications.

Though the meeting was once interrupted by World War Two, it was restarted in 1947. In 1952, thepublication of the records was succeeded by the Institute and the records have been published asperiodicals, two or three times a year recently, since No. 1 Vol. 21 was published in July, 1952.

2. The Annual Report of Research Activity at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication,
Tohoku University

Published annually since 1995. This report details the activities of each research division andresearch facility. Also included are reports on nation-wide co-operative research projects, international
symposium and seminars organized by members of RIEC, and the reports and evaluation on the RIEC
advisory board members. English edition(digest version of Japanese edition) has been publishedsince 2007.

3. RIEC NewsAs a part of RIEC’s publication service, “RIEC News” is published.
With the 75th anniversary of the establishment of RIEC, RIEC News introduces cutting-edge’s

77

2013 Periodicals Published by the Instituteresearch and the vision of the future from RIEC’s contributions to the progression of science andtechnology in Japan. RIEC News was first launched in March 2011, In fiscal year 2014, 8th, 9th and 10th
issues were published. Every issue introduces special topics such as large scale projects andSpecially-Promoted Research, etc. RIEC News also includes current information about each laboratory
and center, all kinds of RIEC events, research exchange meetings, laboratories open to the public(RIEC Open Day), etc. English version is also published in March 2014. Further, RIEC News offers anotification service by mail whenever a new issue is released and an electronic version of every issue
published so far can be downloaded by following the link below.
http://www.riec.tohoku.ac.jp/riecnews/78

2013 Staff, Budget
9. Staff, Budget
1.Faculty & Staff
as of May 1, 2013
Professors

24

Associate Professors

20

Assistant Professors

24

Research Fellows

25

Specially Appointed Professors

3

Administrative Staff

17

Technical Staff

10

Total

123

2.Researchers (FY2013)
Foreign Researchers

Visiting Professors

1

Visiting Associate Professors

6

Cooperative Researchers of Private Company etc

4

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellows

5

Contract Researchers

6

Contract Trainees

1

Total

23

3.Students
as of May 1, 2013
School ofEngineering

Graduate School ofInformation Science

RIEC

Total

Undergraduate Students

67 ( 1)67 ( 1)Master Course Students

76 ( 8)49 ( 9)125 (17)

Doctor Course Students

28 ( 7)10 ( 7)38 (14)

Research Students
Total

171 (16)59 (16)5 ( 4)

5 ( 4)

5 ( 4)

235 (36)
̪ ( ) Foreigner79

2013 Staff, Budget
5.BudgetBudget Shiftmillion yen

thousand yen

Budget Summary
Categories

FY2009FY2010FY2011FY2012FY2013

Personnel Expenses

1,026,511

777,776

835,898

770,443

723,507

Non-Personnel Expenses

750,364

680,411687,253

665,038

708,222

Operation Grants Total

1,776,875

1,458,187

1,523,151

1,435,481

1,431,729

Grants-in-Aid for Scientiﬁc Research

605,100

418,680

469,840

407,629

343,824

Funds for Commissioned Research

798,053

962,712

1,122,944

1,344,071

1,890,012

FIRST Program ※ 1・NEXT Program ※ 2

400,440

1,034,827

813,777

671,668

660,578

Donations

51,95455,08554,16740,714

38,1001,855,547

2,471,304

2,460,728

2,464,082

2,932,514

432,607

4,993

0Operation Grants

External Funds

External Funds Total
Expenses for Reconstruction
Expenses for Facilities Improvement

760,00000

1,536,530

0Expenses for Facilities Improvement etc. Total

760,000

0432,607

1,541,523

0

Total

4,392,422

3,929,491

4,416,486

5,441,086

4,364,243

※1
※2

80

FIRST Program…Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (JSPS)
NEXT Program…Funding Program for Next Generation World-Leading Researchers (JSPS)2013 Staff, Budget
External Funds

million yen

thousand yen

External Funds
Categories

FY2009FY2010FY2011FY2012FY2013Grants-in-Aid for Scientiﬁc Research

605,100

418,680

469,840

407,629

343,824

Funds for Commissioned Research

798,053

962,712

1,122,944

1,344,071

1,890,012

FIRST Program ※ 1・NEXT Program ※ 2

400,440

1,034,827

813,777

671,668

660,578

Donations

51,95455,08554,16740,714

38,1001,855,547

2,471,304

2,460,728

2,464,082

2,932,514

Total

※1
※2

FIRST Program…Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (JSPS)
NEXT Program…Funding Program for Next Generation World-Leading Researchers (JSPS)81

Research Institute of Electrical Communication
Tohoku University
2-1-1Katahira, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Tel. +81-(0)22-217-5422 Fax. +81-(0)22-217-5426
http://www.riec.tohoku.ac.jp/