2009‐2010(J)表紙AD̲2009‐2010(J)表紙AD 平成 21/08/22 8:46 ページ 4R

Research Institute of Electrical Communication
Tohoku University

h I tit t

2009/2010f El t i l C
i ti
T h k U iit
2009/2010

2009‐2010(e)表紙BC̲2009‐2010(e)表紙BC 平成 21/08/22 8:49 ページ 1

CONTENTS• Greeting from the Director ………………………1• Preface ………………………………………………2• Organization …………………………………………3• Nation‑wide Cooperative Research Projects …6• Research Fields ……………………………………7• Research Division
Information Devices Division …………………9Broadband Engineering Division…………15

Human Information Systems Division ……23
Systems & Software Division ………………29• Laboratory for Nanoelectronics
and Spintronics …………………………………34• Laboratory for Brainware Systems …………40• Research Center for 21st Century
Information Technology……………………46• Flexible Information System Research Center …52• Fundamental Technology Center ……………53• Management Office for Safety and Health …54• Research Activities
Study Groups on Electrical Communication …55
Symposiums Organized by the Institute …56
Periodicals Published by the Institute ……57
• Educatonal Activities……………………………58• International Activities …………………………59• RIEC Open Day ……………………………………60• Staff …………………………………………………61

Experimental equipment for Yagi-Uda Antenna（1929）

2009‐2010(e)表紙BC̲2009‐2010(e)表紙BC 平成 21/08/22 8:50 ページ 2

IEEE Electrical Engineering Milestone
for Yagi-Uda AntennaIEEE Electrical Engineering Milestone
for Yagi-Uda Antenna（in Katahira Campus）

Experimental equipment for AC-bias magnetic recording（1937）

Experimental equipment for Split Anode Magnetron（1927）

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 1

Greeting from the Director

Tohoku University was founded in 1907 as Tohoku
Imperial University.The Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication (RIEC) was established in 1935 as a
research institute affiliated with Tohoku Imperial University.
At that time, within the Department of ElectricalEngineering there was a growing tendency towards
research on the application of light currents, especially thescience and technology for electrical communication. Greatefforts in these fields produced pioneering researches suchas the Yagi-Uda antenna and divided anode-typemagnetron, which were developed in the department in thelate 1920s.
In the seven decades since RIEC was established, it hascontinued to excel as the only research institute affiliatedwith a national university that addresses information
technology, with various research fields ranging from
hardware to software. In 1994, our research institutebecame one of the National Centers for Co-operative
research, addressing ‘‘theory and applications of intelligent
information science and communication theory”. Information
science and communication technology have developed
rapidly and brought about great social change including
globalization of communication and physical distribution. All
the staff members in our institute will assume leadership increating new information technologies that works inharmony with human nature, through national andinternational collaboration with researchers in these fields.
To meet the needs and demands of a new age, our 30 or
so research groups working on basic research for
information communication with a 20 year horizon areorganized into four research divisions. Two researchfacilities with 8 research groups working on next generation
technology have been established with a 10 year horizon.
The Research Center for 21st Century Information Scienceand Technology has been established to realize the rapid
commercialization of technologies developed by theinstitute with a 5 years horizon.
Furthermore, this institute's mission is to train
researchers and engineers to internationally high standards
through close co-operation with the Graduate Schools ofEngineering, Information Sciences and Biomedical
Engineering.

1

Director Prof. Masafumi YANO

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 2

Preface

The Research Institute of Electrical Communication (RIEC) is a unique university-run institute,which is dedicated to research on communication and information processing. It comprises four
research divisions with 23 subsections (including 4 subsections allocated for visiting
researchers), three research facilities with 12 subsections. Each of the subsections is headed
by a professor. In 1994 the Institute was designated as a National Centre for Cooperative
Research, centered on the development of ‘‘barrier-free” communication technologies.
The Information Devices Division carries out research into materials and devices forcommunication technology, whilst the Broadband Engineering Division focuses on thedevelopment of new technologies for the transmission and storage of vast quantities of data.
The Human Information Systems Division researches into intelligent information processing and
the Systems and Software Division is developing advanced system software for the new
information society.
The three research facilities are focused on short, medium and long-term projects. The
Research Centre for 21st Century Information Technology was established in 2002 as a fiveyear collaboration between the Institute and industrial partners. The Centre aims to develop
information technology products using the advanced technologies and intellectual property
developed at the Institute. For the medium term, the Laboratory for Nanoelectronics andSpintronics, housed in newly-built facilities, is carrying out fundamental research into highspeed semiconductor devices and advanced nano/spin science. Smaller and faster electronic
devices, non-volatile memories and molecular and bio-information devices are some of the
expected fruits of this research. Meanwhile, the Laboratory for Brainware Systems is working
towards its long-term goal of the seamless fusion of real and virtual worlds at the humancomputer interface.
Since its establishment in 1935 the Institute has played an internationally leading role in thefields of microwaves, ultrasonics, magnetic recording, optical communication, acoustic
communication, semiconductor devices and information theory. The accomplishments in thesefields are the result of close cooperation with the Graduate Schools of Engineering, Information
Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. The past accomplishments of the Institute have madesignificant contributions to the betterment of ordinary life by providing many of the basic
technologies that became the foundation of the prosperity of the Japanese economy. The
Institute and its members aim to continue this tradition of world-class research and innovation
far into the future.

2

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 3

Organization
1.Organization Chart
Information Devices Division
Director

Advisory
Council
DeputyDirector

Broadband Engineering Division

Research
Divisions
Human Information Systems Division
FacultyCouncil
Systems & Software Division

Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics
Research
Facilities

Laboratory for Brainware Systems
Research Center for 21st Century
Information Technology
Management Office for Safety and HealthCommon Research Facilities

Flexible Information System Research Center
Fundamental Technology Center

General Affairs Group
Administration Office3

Accounting Group

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 4

Nano‑Photoelectronics
Quantum‑Optical Information Technology
Solid State Electronics
Dielectric Nano‑Devices
Materials Functionality Design
Magnetic Devices(Visitor Section)
Ultrahigh‑Speed Optical Communication
Applied Quantum Optics
Wireless Info Tech
Information Storage Systems
Ultra‑Broadband Signal Processing
Basic Technology for Broadband Communication(Visitor Section)
Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering
Advanced Acoustic Information Systems
Visual Cognition and Systems
Interdisciplinary Field for Informatics
Ubiquitous Communications System
Multimodal Computing (Visitor Section)
Software Construction
Computing Information Theory
Communication Network Systems
Information Contents
Information Social Structure(Visitor Section)
Atomically Controlled Processing
Semiconductor Spintronics
Nano‑Molecular Devices
Nano‑Spin Memory
Real‑World ComputingIntelligent Nano‑Integration System
Microarchitecture
New Paradigm VLSI System
Project Planning Division
Technology Development Division:
Mobile Wireless Technology Group
Storage Technology GroupIntelligence Archive Group(Visitor Section)

Machine Shop Division
Evaluation Division
Process Division
Software Technology Division
General Affairs Section
Cooperative Research Section
Library Section
Accounting Section
Purchasing Section4

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 5

2.Staff(2009.7.1)

Classification

Division Laboratory for Laboratory
Nanoelectronics for
and Spintronics Brainware
Systems

Professors
Associate Professors
Assistant Professors
Research Fellows
Technical Officials
Administrative Officials
Total

19
12
17
8

3
4
3
4

ResearchCenter for21st Century
Information
Technology

Administration Office
Fundamental
Technology Head General Accounting Total
Affairs
CenterOfficial Group Group

3
1

29
18
25
16
19
14
121

4
1
5
3

1
17

56

14

13

5

17

1
1

1
6
7

1
7
8

3.Land and Buildings
Site:
Total building area:
Total floor area:
Name of Buildings
Building No.1

Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
12,913m2
28,776m2
Structure
Reinforced Concrete, 4 floors

Building No.2
Reinforced Concrete, 4 floors
Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics Steel-frame, 5 floors
Reinforced Concrete, 1 floor
Laboratory for
Brainware Systems
Reinforced Concrete(partly steel-frame), 2 floors
Steel-frame 1 floor
Light-weight steel-frame, 2 floors
Research Center for 21st Century Reinforced Concrete, 3 floors
Information Technology
Steel-frame 1 floor
Evaluation and Analysis Center Reinforced Concrete, 2 floors
Helium Sub-Center
Reinforced Concrete(partly light-weight steel-frame),1 floor
Machine Shop
Reinforced Concrete(partly light-weight steel-frame),1 floor
OthersTotal(2009.7.1)

Year of Completion Floor Area
Building-S:1962,1963
7,772m2
Building-N:1959,1960
1962,1963
7,085m2
2004
7,375m2
1967,1968,1972
525m2
1986
1,553m2
1996
598m2
1999
147m2
1930
1,343m2
2002
435m2
1981
790m2
1972
166m2
1965,1966,1978
479m2
508m2
28,776m2

4.BudgetFinancial Year

2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

(Unit:1,000Yen)

Personnel
Expenditure

Supplies
Expenditure902,978
984,113
971,482
970,961
879,481

1,233,357
1,050,647
927,090813,724
953,000

Research Grant
Partnership Between
Ministry of Education,
Universities and Industry
Science and Culture
338,459
1,432,607
554,680
1,303,028
599,040
937,441
700,615
888,833
694,883
1,069,832

5

Total

3,907,401
3,892,468
3,435,053
3,374,133
3,597,196

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 6

Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects

The Institute has a long history of fundamental contributions in many fields of engineering and science that include
the fields of semiconductor materials and devices, magnetic recording, optical communication, electromagnetic
technology, applications of ultrasonics, acoustic communication, non-linear physics and engineering, and computer
software. On the basis of this rich historical background 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 andforeign, continue the task of “investigating the theory and application of universal science and technology to realize
communication, to the enrichment of humanity.”
In such background, the Institute organizes Nation-wide Cooperative Research Projects by coordinating its activities
with research workers. The main themes for Cooperative Research are selected annually by the Committee for
Cooperative Research. Then invitations for project proposals and participation are extended to university faculties andgovernment laboratories as well as industrial research groups. Each project approved by the Faculty Council of theInstitute is carried 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 Judging 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 the proper operation of approved projects.

Faculty Council

Administrative OfficePlanning
Request for proposal

Participation
Research(Cooperative Research Section)
ProposalRequest for evaluation
Adoption

Project Judging Committee

AdviceProject Steering Committee
6

Research organization
outside the Institute

Cooperative Research
Project Teams

Advisory Council

Research groups
inside the Institute2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 7

Research Fields
The Research Institute of Electrical Communication (RIEC) maintains a close cooperative relationship with the Graduate
Schools of Engineering, Information Sciences and Biomedical Engineering in its research and educational activities, especiallywith the Departments of Electrical and Communication Engineering, Electronics, Computer and Mathematical Science, System
Information Science and Applied Information Sciences. This cooperation enriches the research activities of RIEC as a“National Center for Cooperative Research.” The research fields of four divisions are:(1)Information Devices Division:Advanced Nano-Information Devices Utilizing Physical Phenomena(2)Broadband Engineering Division:Next Generation Systems for Ultra-Broadband Communication(3)Human Information Systems Division:Creation of Information Systems Harmonizing People and Environments(4)Systems & Software Division:Advanced System and Software for Information Society

Information Devices Division

Broadband Engineering Division

Materials Science and Device Science

Information Technology
・ Wireless Info Tech・ Technology Development Division Mobile Wireless Technology Group・ Ultrasonic Micro‑Spectroscopy *・ Solid State Electronics
・ Dielectric Nano‑Devices
・ Materials Functionality Design
・ Atomically Controlled Processing
・ Physical Fluctuomatics *・ Intelligent Integrated Systems *・ Advanced Management of Integrated System Technology *・ Solid State Electronics *・ Wave‑Triggered Nanomedicine *Ultrahigh‑Frequency Engineering
・ Ultra‑Broadband Signal Processing
・ Communication Engineering *Optical Communication／Applied Quantum Electronics
Electonic and Optical Quantum Science・ Ultrahigh‑Speed Optical Communication
・ Applied Quantum Optics
・ Optical Physics Engineering *・ Light Medical Engineering *・ Synergetic Photonics *・ Neural Electronic Engineering Laboratory *・ Nano‑Photoelectronics
・ Quantum‑Optical Information Technology
・ Image Science and Information Display *・ Biomodeling *Information Recording ／ Material Science・ Semiconductor Spintronics
・ Information Storage Systems
・ Technology Development Division Storage Technology Group・ Nano‑spin memory
・ Microelectronics *・ Electronic Physics Engineering *・ Algorithm Theory *・ Nanometer‑scale Magnetic Recording *・ Medical Nanosystem Engineering *・ Spin Electronics *・ Magnetic Materials *Plasma Science・ Electromagnetic Theory *・ Magneto‑Plasma‑Dynamic Engineering *Visitor Section

Visitor Section

・ Magnetic Devices

・ Basic Technology for Broadband Communication7

2009‐2010(e)01〜08p̲2009‐2010(e)01〜08p 平成 21/08/22 8:51 ページ 8

Human Information Systems Division

Systems & Software Division

Bioinformation

Computer Science・ Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering・ Electromagnetic Theory *・ Applied Power Systems Engineering *・ Software Construction
・ Computing Information Theory
・ Foundations of Software Science *・ Intelligent Systems Science *・ Advanced Management of Integrated System Technology *・ Information Sciences Education *・ Multimedia Education *Human Information Processing
・ Advanced Acoustic Information Systems
・ Visial Cognition and Systems
・ Intelligent Communication Network *・ Electronic Control Systems *・ Advanced Information Technology *・ Medical Ultrasound *Internet Communication

Communication Environment

・ Communication Network Systems
・ Information Contents
・ Fundamental Engineering for Information Society *・ Information Network Systems *・ Information Technology *・ Academic Information *・ Ubiqutous Communication Systems
・ Electromagnetic Wave Engineering *・ Firmware Science *Bioelectronics
・ Nano‑Molecular Divices
・ Interdisciplinary field for Informatics
・ Basic Plasma Engineering *・ Biomedical Electronics *・ Nano‑Biomedical Engineering *VLSI System
・ Intelligent Nano‑Integration System
・ New Paradigm VLSI System
・ Microarchitecture
・ Intelligent Electronic Circuits *・ Power Electronics *・ Computer Structures *Real World Computing
・ Real‑World Computing
・ Biomedical Electromagnetics *・ System Control Engineering *・ Bioelectromagnetics *Visitor Section

Visitor Section

・ Information Social Structure

・ Multimodal Computing

8*Laboratories in Graduate Schools

2009‐2010(e)09〜14P̲2009‐2010(e)09〜14P 平成 21/08/22 8:53 ページ 9

Materials Functionality
DesignNano‑Photoelectronics

Information
Devices Division

Quantum‑Optical
Information Technology

Dielectric
Solid State Electronics

Nano‑Devices

9

2009‐2010(e)09〜14P̲2009‐2010(e)09〜14P 平成 21/08/22 8:53 ページ 10

Nano-Photoelectronics
Staff:
Yoichi UEHARA, Professor
Satoshi KATANO, Assistant Professor
S. KATANO

Y. UEHARA

Research activities:
Our main interest lies in the studies of physical and chemical
phenomena that take place in nanometer-scale regions as well as theapplications of such phenomena in photo-electronic devices. We
investigate materials properties of nano-structures through their opticalresponse to local excitations that is generated by electrons from the tipof a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The physical systems understudy include adsorbed atoms and molecules on solid surfaces, metaland semiconductor nano-structures, and superconductive nanostructures.
We are also interested in developing novel probing methods for nanoscience. We are developing a STM light emission spectroscopy systemthat is capable of measuring the optical properties of nanometer scale
objects with pico-second time resolution.

Research topics:
1. Identification of individual surface adsorbates
2. Single molecule optical spectroscopy
3. STM light emission spectroscopy of normal and super conductive
nano-structures
4. Light enhancement effect in nano-scale regions
5. Creation of novel nano-structures by STM

10Integrated Surface Analysis Systemwith Low‑temperature STM

2009‐2010(e)09〜14P̲2009‐2010(e)09〜14P 平成 21/08/22 8:53 ページ 11

Quantum-Optical Information Technology
Staff:
Keiichi EDAMATSU, Professor
Yasuyoshi MITSUMORI, Assistant Professor
Ryosuke SHIMIZU, Research Fellow
Nobuyuki MATSUDA, Research Fellow

Hideo KOSAKA, Associate Professor
Atsushi SYOUJI, Research Fellow
Takeshi KUTSUWA, Research Fellow
H. KOSAKA K. EDAMATSU Y. MITSUMORI
R. SHIMIZU A. SYOUJI T. KUTSUWA N. MATSUDA

Research activities:
Current information processing and communication technology utilizes
macroscopic and classical physical quantities, such as voltage or
frequency of electric fields. The classical technology will reach the limitof information density and speed in the near future. The quantum
mechanical counterpart, "quantum info-communication technology", inwhich information is carried by microscopic and quantum mechanicalquantities, is expected to overcome the difficulty.
Our goal is to develop the quantum info-communication devices
utilizing quantum interaction between electrons and photons insemiconductor nanostructures, to get further understanding of their

Entangled photon generation from a semiconductor.

physics, and to apply them to practical quantum info-communication
technologies. We are particularly working toward the development of
future quantum info-communication devices utilizing entangled photon
pairs and electron spins in semiconductor nanostructures.

Quantum state transfer from photon polarization toan electron spin.

Research topics:
1. Photon-control devices with semiconductor nanostructures
2. Quantum info-communication devices utilizing photons and electron
spins
3. Quantum info-communication technology utilizing entangled states ofphotons and electrons112009‐2010(e)09〜14P̲2009‐2010(e)09〜14P 平成 21/08/22 8:53 ページ 12

Solid State Electronics
Staff:
Maki SUEMITSU, Professor
Hirokazu FUKIDOME, Assistant Professor
Arnold Cafe ALGUNO, Research Fellow
Sergey FILIMONOV, Visiting Associate Professor
A. C. ALGUNO
H. FUKIDOME
M. SUEMITSU S. FILIMONOV

Research activities:
To realize the ubiquitous (or ambient intelligence) society, inwhich sensors and their networks are embedded in ourambience to support our daily life, a marriage between non-Si
technologies suitable for environmental sensing and the Si
technology suitable for signal processings is indispensable. To
this goal, we investigate formation of ultrathin silicon-carbide(SiC) films on Si substrates, hoping to use them as a common
interface between the two technologies. SiC is a group-IV
compound that contains a pair of elements representative ofboth electronics (Si) and biology & nanoelectronics (ex.
graphene) (C). It also bridges the gap between Si and other IIVI or III-V compounds. It is a widegap semiconductor thatenables high-temperature operations. High enough strengthand hardness of SiC make this material suitable for use in
MEMS structures. We are developing gas-sensors, graphenebased ultrahigh-speed devices, LEDs, biosensors, MEMS
structures, non-volatile memories, and photovoltaic cells basedon the SiC/Si structures. What lies behind these applications is
our original technology of SiC gas-source molecular-beam
epitaxy (MBE) using organo-silane, which enables a highquality, low-temperature SiC epitaxy on Si substrates. Our
research covers the surface chemistry of Si-related surfaces,
targeted to the control of nanostructure formation on Si and SiC
surfaces. Fabrication of non-equilibrium Si structures such as
amorphous-, microcrystalline-, and poly-Si thin films is also
within our interests, and is being intensively investigated using
atmospheric-pressure plasma-enhanced chemical vapor
deposition (AP-PECVD).

SiC expands the conventional Si technology

Graphene: A two‑dimensional network of carbon atoms.

Research topics:
1. Surface reconstruction of Si surfaces and fabrication ofnanostructures
2. Surface chemistry during oxidation and film-deposition on Sirelated surfaces and development of nanofabrication
processes
3. Formation of SiC films on Si substrate and their applications
to ubiquitous devices
4. Formation of graphene-on-Si structure and development of
ultrahigh speed devices
5. Fabrication of non-equilibrium Si structures using AP-PECVE
and their applications to photovoltaic cells and thin-film
transistors for flexible displays.

12

A UHV‑compatible process/analyses systemand the atomic image of a Si surface (inset).

2009‐2010(e)09〜14P̲2009‐2010(e)09〜14P 平成 21/08/22 8:53 ページ 13

Dielectric Nano-Devices
Staff:
Yasuo CHO, Professor
Yoshiomi HIRANAGA, Assistant Professor
Nobuhiro KIN, Assistant Professor
Yasuo WAGATSUMA, Technical Official
Noriaki OKAZAKI, Research Fellow

N. OKAZAKI
Y. HIRANAGA

Y. WAGATSUMA
Y. CHO
N.KIN

Research activities:
Our main area of interest is evaluation and development of dielectricmaterials, including ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials and theirapplication to communication devices and ferroelectric data storage
systems.
Our measure contributions to advancement in these fields are theinvention and the development of "Scanning Nonlinear Dielectric
Microscope" (SNDM) which is the first successful purely electricalmethod for observing the ferroelectric polarization distribution without
the influence of the shielding effect by free charges and it has alreadybeen 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. Our recent
research achieved to fabricate an ultra-small domain inversion dot,
which has the diameter of 3 nm in case of single dot fabrication, andachieved the recording density of 4 Tbit/inch 2 in actual information
storage, requiring an abundance of bits to be packed together.(Fig.3)
Moreover, we have started to make a measurement and an evaluationof flash-memory device and dopant profile in semiconductor devices
using SNDM. Because SNDM can detect very small capacitancevariation, it can be a very powerful evaluation tool for various materials.
Now SNDM evolves into a new evaluation technique for insulator
material and semiconductor materials besides ferroelectric materials.

Fig1:Commercially available scanning nonlinear
dielectric microscope.

Fig2:S(111) 7X7 atomic structure taken by SNDM.
(a)Topography (b) Electric dipole‑moment.

Research topics:
1. Development of scanning nonlinear dielectric microscope (SNDM)
with super high (atomic-scale) resolution.
2. Ultra-high density ferroelectric recording system using SNDM.
3. Development of ferroelectric functional devices for electricalcommunications using nano-domain engineering based on SNDM.
4. Evaluation of ferroelectric material and piezoelectric material using
SNDM.
5. Evaluation of flash-memory device and dopant profile insemiconductor devices using SNDM.

13

Fig3:Example of a ferroelectric actual information
storage (4 Tbit/inch2).

2009‐2010(e)09〜14P̲2009‐2010(e)09〜14P 平成 21/08/22 8:53 ページ 14

Materials Functionality Design
Staff:
Masafumi SHIRAI, Professor
Yoshio MIURA, Assistant Professor
Kazutaka ABE, Assistant Professor
K. ABE

M. SHIRAI

Y. MIURA

Research activities:
Various kinds of materials, such as semiconductors, dielectrics, andmagnets, are utilized for processing, communication, and storage of
massive data in the modern information-oriented society. Our research
objectives are as follows: (1) theoretical analyses of quantum
phenomena which appear in materials and nanostructures for advanced
information devices, (2) computational design of materials andnanostructures which possess new functionalities for improvement ofdevice performance, and (3) development of epoch-making materials
and functionality design procedures on the basis of large-scalecomputational simulation techniques.
Our research interest is focused on “spintronics”, an interdisciplinary

The highly spin‑polarized (110) interface between a
Heusler alloy Co2FeSi and Si

research field emerging from materials science, physics, electronics,
and magnetics, where both charge and spin degrees of freedom are
exploited to realize new kinds of advanced information devices. The
main research topics are computational design of new spin-related
functionalities exhibited in the highly spin-polarized materials anddevice-structures utilized the materials. We undertake pioneeringcomputational simulations of fabrication processes of nanostructuresfabricated at surfaces and interfaces.
Electron transmittance as a function of in‑plane
wave‑numbers for MgO‑based magnetic tunnel
junctions with Heusler‑alloy (Co 2MnSi / Co 2CrAl)electrodes for the parallel magnetization configuration

Research topics:
1. Computational design of new spintronics materials from first-principles
2. Computational analysis of transport properties in spintronics devices
3. Computational simulation of nanostructure-growth process on surface
4. Development of new computational procedure simulating spin dynamics

14

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 15

Ultrahigh‑Speed
Optical Communication

Broadband
Engineering Division
Applied Quantum
OpticsWireless Info Tech15

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 16

Information Storage
Systems

Ultra‑Broadband Signal
Processing

Basic Technology for
Broadband Communication16

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 17

Ultrahigh-Speed Optical Communication
Staff:
Masataka NAKAZAWA, Professor
Toshihiko HIROOKA, Associate Professor
Masato YOSHIDA, Assistant Professor
Keisuke KASAI, Research Fellow

T. HIROOKA M. NAKAZAWA M. YOSHIDA K. KASAI

Research activities:
With the vast growth of traffic on the Internet from simple text data tohigh quality voice, images, and real-time video, it has become
increasingly important to realize a high-capacity and high-speed
network to support the daily needs of modern communications.
Ultrahigh-speed optical communication is the key technology forbuilding such an interconnected world. This laboratory aims to achieve a
global ultrahigh-speed optical network in the 21 century by engaging in
the research of ultrashort pulse generation and transmission. The
research areas include optical solitons, high-speed mode-locked lasers,
optical signal processing, and the development of fibers with new
functions.
For soliton transmission, we have shown that with the adoption ofdispersion management in an optical fiber transmission line, thedispersion tolerance and power margin of a soliton system can begreatly increased in comparison to conventional systems. In the next
phase of this work, it is important to increase the bit rate of a single
channel to greater than 100 Gbit/s and to apply solitons to high-speed
optical signal processing.
We are also actively engaged in work on femtosecond pulse
generation and its application to ultrahigh–speed optical time divisionmultiplexed (OTDM) transmission. We have recently generated a 40
GHz-100 fs pulse train with the use of an adiabatic soliton compression
technique. We also started to develop a new transmission techniquewhich employs the optical Fourier transformation in the time domain. In
addition, we are developing a new frequency standard by stabilizing themode-locked laser so that it has a highly controlled longitudinal mode
separation. This technique is also applicable to the microwavephotonics area. Another important area of our research is in thedevelopment of photonic crystal fibers. These special fibers have many
air holes in the fiber cross-section, and they have potential applications
for new optical communication systems operating in the currently
unused 500-1000 nm band.

Experiment on ultrahigh‑speed optical transmission

Research topics:
1. Ultrahigh-speed optical soliton transmission and nonlinear optics in
optical fibers
2. Terabit/s OTDM transmission using femtosecond pulse train
3. Ultrashort mode-locked lasers and their application to frequency
standard and microwave-photonics area
4. Photonic crystal fibers and optical fibers with new functionality

17

Photonic crystal fiber(Upper photo:cleaved end face of a PCF, lower
photo:enlarged cross section)

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 18

Applied Quantum Optics
Staff:
Hiroshi YASAKA, Professor
Jun-ichi SHIKATA, Associate Professor
J. SHIKATA

H. YASAKA

Research activities:
We are investigating novel, highly functional semiconductor photonic
devices, which is indispensable to realize new generation information
communication networks. We are also investigating novel, compact andwidely tunable coherent light sources based on lasers and nonlinearoptical phenomena.
We have been researching highly functional semiconductor photonic
devices and semiconductor photonic integrated circuits based on
semiconductor lasers and semiconductor optical modulators to create
novel semiconductor photonic devices, which can control intensity,
phase, frequency and polarization of optical signal freely.
We have also been studying utra-broadband coherent terahertz (THz)wave radiation to explore novel science and technology fields, the bandof which extends from ultra-violet to far-infrared region. Widely tunable,
spatially and temporally coherent THz wave is generated for the firsttime, by using optical parametric effects. THz-frequency coherent antiStokes Raman (THz-CARS) microscope has been successfully applied
for sensitive detection of THz resonances in biomolecules. Novel THz
biosensors have been developed by using local-field enhancement via
surface plasmon resonance, and successfully applied to near-field THz
imaging with sub-wavelength resolution.
Furthermore, our research interests cover ultrafast photonic devices,
opto-electronic semiconductor devices and their applications to opticalcomputing and signal processing areas.

Experimental setup for high‑speed operation offunctional semiconductor photonic devices byexternal optical signal injection.

Terahertz CARS microscope and its imaging of
periodically poled lithium niobate.

Research topics:
1. Highly functional semiconductor photonic devices
2. New function semiconductor photonic integration circuits
3. Ultra Broadband, coherent tunable light sources using nonlinear
optics
4. Terahertz biophotonics

18

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 19

Wireless Info Tech
Staff:
Kazuo TSUBOUCHI, Professor
Suguru KAMEDA, Assistant Professor
S. KAMEDA

K. TSUBOUCHI

Research activities:
Research and development are progressing toward ubiquitous
network in the 21st century's wireless information technology. The
ubiquitous network immediately provides any information for everyone
at anytime and anywhere.
For realizing the ubiquitous network, we are interested in developing
following wireless networks;(1) next-generation mobile broadband wireless access (MBWA), (2)dependable broadband wireless local area network (WLAN), and (3)ultra-broadband wireless personal area network (WPAN).
We are also actively engaged in work on following technology forbroadband, low-power consumption and small-size terminals;

Ubiquitous network using broadband and dependable
wireless technology.

(1) RF power amplifier, synthesizer and mixer devices for millimeterwave and GHz-band wireless modems, (2) GHz-band surface acoustic
wave (SAW) and film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) devices, and (3)Ultra small antennas for mobile terminals. Moreover, seamless
interconnection technology using 3-dementional system in package (3-D
SiP) has been investigated.
Currently, we are concentrating on the coherent work toward the nextgeneration "Dependable wireless next generation network (NGN)
terminal" which enables signal-demodulation of any band and any typereceived radio wave.

Seamless interconnection technology using 3dimentional system in package (3-D SiP).

Research topics:
1. Mobile broadband wireless access network
2. Broadband wireless communication system
3. Ultra high-frequency, broadband and low-power RF silicon CMOS
device4. GHz-band SAW & FBAR signal processing devices and materials
5. Seamless interconnect 3-dimentional system in package (3-D SiP)
6. Dependable wireless next generation network (NGN)

19

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 20

Information Storage Systems
Staff:
Hiroaki MURAOKA, Professor
Simon J. GREAVES, Associate professor
Kenji MIURA, Assistant Professor
K. MIURA

H. MURAOKA

S. J. GREAVES

Research activities:
Our main interest lies in high-density information storage technology.
The core technology is magnetic recording with fast data transfer andlarge storage capacity, which is applied for hard disk drives, magnetic
tape storage, and flexible disk drives. Recently, multi-media informationsuch as digital movie and music that requires very large storage
capacity begins to be used in broad applications from consumer
electronics to mobile communication. This trend accelerates the areal
density increase of magnetic recording.
Recording theories, devices, and systems based on perpendicular
recording are being studied in order to attain ultra-high density
information storage. Our target is the terabit storage (1 Tbits/inch2 areal

Fig 1 Read/write measurement by using a single‑
pole head and a perpendicular medium.

density and beyond), in which the bit size corresponds to the area of 25
nm by 25 nm. Single-pole heads and perpendicular disks areinvestigated through read/write experiments, as shown in Fig 1, to
improve the recording performance. A computer simulation utilizing
micromagnetics is being carried out to obtain a guideline towards ultrahigh density recording. For extremely large capacity storage systems,
the RAID storage working on a network, as shown in Fig 2, is also
explored.

Research topics:
1. High areal density hard disk drives
2. Micromagnetics simulation for high density read/write theory
3. Head/disk devices for high density magnetic storage
4. Digital signal processing for high density storage
5. RAID storage for large capacity file server

20

Fig 2 RAID system consisting of many HDDs.

2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 21

Ultra-Broadband Signal Processing
Staff:
Taiichi OTSUJI, Professor
Tetsuya SUEMITSU, Associate Professor
T. OTSUJI

T. SUEMITSU

Research activities:
Terahertz (sub-millimeter) coherent electromagnetic waves are
expected to diversify the potential applications of imaging,
spectroscopy, as well as communications technologies. The terahertz
band, however, is still an unexplored region in the sense that nopractical integrated device technology exists. This is because
conventional electron devices as well as photonic devices face to thesubstantial limit of operation. That is the motivation of our research.
We are developing novel, integrated electron devices and circuit
systems operating in the millimeter-wave and terahertz regions withfunctionalities of coherent, tunable signal generation and ultrabroadband signal processing. One example is a frequency-tunable
plasmon-resonant terahertz emitter/photomixer. Based on bothexperimental and theoretical investigation on plasmon resonance forheterostructure devices, we have developed a novel device structurethat can drastically improve the radiation power and frequency
tunability, which has recently succeeded in terahertz emission ofradiation at room temperature. Another example is a uniqueelectromagnetic metamaterial circuit systems based on optoelectronic
dispersion control of low-dimensional plasmons. We are also pursuing
graphene-based new materials and original device structures forultrafast transistors as well as terahertz lasers to break through the limit
on conventional transistor speed and lasing frequency.
By making full use of those devices and circuits, we are exploring new
applications including future smart photonic network systems as well as
millimeter-wave- and terahertz-band spectroscopic measurement
systems.

Research topics:
1. Millimeter-wave and terahertz integrated microelectronic devices andcircuits
2. Plasmon-resonant terahertz emitters/photomixers
3. Electromagnetic metamaterial circuit systems based on dispersion
control of low-dimensional plasmons
4. Graphene-based ultimate ultrafast transistors and terahertz lasers
5. Application of THz integrated microelectronics to the futurecommunications and measurement systems.

21

Newly‑proposed plasmon‑resonant emitter/photomixer
operating in the terahertz range. (Upper: cross‑sectional view and SEM images of the first sample
fabricated with GaAs‑based heterostructure material
systems, middle: Simulated instantaneous electricfield distribution under continuous plasmon excitation
at 5.1 THz, lower: FTIR‑measured broadband
emission spectra in the self‑oscillation mode)2009‐2010(e)15〜22P̲2009‐2010(e)15〜22P 平成 21/08/22 8:55 ページ 22

Basic Technology for Broadband Communication
Koji MIZUNO, Visiting Professor

Research activities:
Development of measurement methods using the millimeter- and terahertzwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum is the research target of thissection. Since the wavelength of this region is larger than that of the infraredand optical region, scattering by cloud, dust, flame, fabrics, skin, etc. is muchsmaller and since photon energy of this region is much smaller than thermalenergy kTB at the room temperature, non-invasive measurement for objects
is possible. Utilizing these characteristics this region can be applied in theareas such as security system under disaster such as earthquake followed byfire, fire in high-way tunnels, and also applied in security system for detectionof weapons under clothes and in diagnostic of biomaterials including skindisease and agricultural produces. We are developing imaging systems
mainly of passive mode.
The figure shows a 35 GHz-band 7 x 7 imaging array for making millimeterwave imaging movies.
This laboratory is operated under the support of a project of MEXT (Ministryof Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).

K. MIZUNO

35 GHz‑band 7 x 7 imaging array fabricated inthis section. The response time of each
imaging element is 1 ms. As 400 data fromeach element are averaged to produce a frameof imaging to reduce noise, 0.8 s / frame is
the imaging speed of this array.

Masaaki INUTAKE, Visiting Professor

Research activities:
Our main interest is to develop an air-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
for the civilian applications and to exploit the system for establishing a safe
and secure community. This SAR is very useful for all-weather surveillance
and rescue in disastrous fires and smokes as shown in the right figure.
The research & development of a spotlight-mode SAR for the civilian
applications with the following features are being under progress incollaboration with scientists and engineers from various universities andindustries.

M. INUTAKE

Research topics:
1. Advanced SAR with a high resolution (5-10cm) and small/light weight (20-30kg)
using Ku/Ka-band microwaves
2. Platforms such as (unmanned) aircraft suitable for the SAR
3. SAR data-processing system with flexibility and convenience
4. SAR image exploitation system which are open to any parties who contribute inestablishing the safe and secure community

22

Forest fire in the suburb of Los Angeles, Oct.
2008. Airborne SAR can see objects throughfire, smoke and cloud. It will be very useful forall‑weather surveillance and rescue indisasters.

2009‐2010(e)23〜28P̲2009‐2010(e)23〜28P 平成 21/08/22 8:56 ページ 23Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering

Human Information
Systems Division

Advanced Acoustic
Information Systems

Visual Cognition and
Systems

Interdisciplinary Field for
Ubiquitous Communications

Informatics

System23

2009‐2010(e)23〜28P̲2009‐2010(e)23〜28P 平成 21/08/22 8:56 ページ 24Electromagnetic Bioinformation Engineering
Staff:
Kazushi ISHIYAMA, Professor
Shuichiro HASHI, Assistant Professor
K. ISHIYAMAS. HASHI

Research activities:
For realizing good communication with human body, and for realizing
the properties of the human body as a information system, we have torealize the function of the human body as information in addition tocatch the signals from the human body. Our research division works on
the technology for sensing the information from the human body and forapproaching action to the human body. High-frequency carrier-typemagnetic field sensor obtains the world-highest field sensitivity in room
temperature under the works for materials, micro-fabrication techniques,High frequency carrior‑type thin film
magnetic field sensor

controlling the magnetic properties. This sensor is studied for sensing
system for bio-information. In addition, sensors for temperature and for
hardness are studied as no contact sensing systems. As one of theapproaching system for human body, wireless actuators andmanipulators are investigated. This technology is important for a basic
study for robots working in the human body. A part of this technology isapplied for a motion system for a capsule endoscope working in thecolon tube. We are focusing to realize the communication technology
with human body and to contribute information and communication
systems and medical-welfare spheres.
A prototype for motion of capsule‑endoscope

Research topics:
1. Magnetic sensing system
2. Micro magnetic actuators
3. Functional magnetic materials
4. High-frequency magnetic measuring system
5. New medical equipments using magnetic

24

2009‐2010(e)23〜28P̲2009‐2010(e)23〜28P 平成 21/08/22 8:56 ページ 25

Advanced Acoustic Information Systems
Staff:
Yôiti SUZUKI, Professor
Shuichi SAKAMOTO, Assistant Professor
Makoto OTANI, Research Fellow
Maori KOBAYASHI, Research Fellow

Yukio IWAYA, Associate Professor
Fumitaka SAITO, Technical Official
Takuma OKAMOTO Research Fellow
Wataru TERAMOTO, Research Fellow W. TERAMOTO Y. SUZUKI Y. IWAYA F. SAITO S. SAKAMOTO
M. KOBAYASHI T. OKAMOTO M. OTANI

Research activities:
Our main interest is a study of the information processing in thehuman auditory system. We apply a psycho-acoustical approach to thestudy of fundamental characteristics of the human auditory system suchas timbre perception, loudness perception, characteristics extraction,and sound localization. Moreover, in recent years, we are also
investigating human multi-modal information processing including
hearing.
With good knowledge of the human auditory system, we are, at thesame time, aiming at the realization of a 'comfortable' soundenvironment exploiting digital signal processing techniques. Threedimensional sound image control by simulating transfer functions of

Head related transfer functions as a fuction of
elevetion. Poles and zeros change systematically withthe rise of elevetion.

sound paths from sound sources to listeners' external ears, and a soundfield simulator based on precise sound field analysis and control are two
examples. These systems are expected to provide a high-quality virtual
sound space, which is keenly required to realize in the multimedia
communication, cyberspace systems and virtual auditory display
systems. Furthermore, we have been devoting a lot of effort to thedevelopment of new algorithms of digital watermarking, safer voice overinternet protocol, and advanced digital hearing aids.

In this figure, speech intelligibility tests are performed
to investigate the effect of asynchronization between
talking‑face movement and speech sound modified byspeech‑rate conversion technique.

Research topics:
1. Auditory perception process and its modeling.
2. Development of new algorithms of digital watermarking.
3. Sound localization process and transmission of spatial information.
4. Development of advanced hearing aids.
5. Measurement and estimation of environmental noises.

25

2009‐2010(e)23〜28P̲2009‐2010(e)23〜28P 平成 21/08/22 8:56 ページ 26

Visual Cognition and Systems
Staff:
Satoshi SHIOIRI, Professor
Ichiro KURIKI, Associate Professor
Kazumichi MATSUMIYA, Assistant Professor
Mitsuharu OGIYA, Research Fellow
Kazuya, MATSUBARA, Research Fellow

K. MATSUMIYA M. OGIYA K. MATSUBARA
S. SHIOIRII. KURIKI

Research activities:
Human brain is one of the most adaptable systems in the world.
Understanding the brain functions is one of the most important issues
for evaluating and designing things around us to improve the quality oflife. We investigate the brain through visual functions to apply theknowledge to human engineering and image engineering. Our
approaches include psychophysics, brain activity measurements, andcomputer simulations. Our research field covers visual spatial
perception, 3D perception, color vision, visual attention and visualhaptic integration. Modeling the processes of human vision based on

Independent measurements of attended and fixatedpoints. An oversight and a mistake can cause aserious accident under the situation that you drive acar. For example, investigating the relationshipbetween gaze and attention can provide a new insight
into this problem.

the findings of the strategies that the visual system uses, we plan topropose appropriate methods for evaluation of image qualities, efficient
way of image presentation and evaluation of visual environments ingeneral. We also investigate dynamic selection process in vision with orwithout attention to realize prediction system of human perception andaction in the future.

Representation of visual information in the early stageof human visual cortex is still unknown. The
mechanisms of visual information processing will be
investigated by using behavioral studies andfunctional brain‑imaging studies. This study may
reveal the ''optimal coding method'' of the visual
information for human brain.

Research topics:
1. Measurements of spatial and temporal characteristics of visual
attention.
2. Modeling control system of eye movements and visual attention
3. Investigation of early, middle and late vision of 3D perception.
4. Mechanisms of color information processing in human brain.
How does the perceptual system integrate visual andhaptic information in motion processing? Wecompared the magnitude of visual motion aftereffectin the haptic movement condition with that in the no
haptic movement condition. This study may reveal themechanism underlying visual‑haptic integration in
motion processing.

26

2009‐2010(e)23〜28P̲2009‐2010(e)23〜28P 平成 21/08/22 8:56 ページ 27

Interdisciplinary Field for Informatics
Staff:
Kaoru TAMADA, Professor
Vincent CRAIG, Visiting Associate Professor

V. CRAIG

K. TAMADA

Research activities:
The interdisciplinary field of research combining
nanobiotechnology and information technology attracts our
exceeding interests. These studies stand on the developmentof new materials created by self-assembly of functional
molecules and nanomaterials, leading to new classes ofbiosensing devices. The plasmons, especially the combinationof surface plasmons propagating along the metal-organicinterface and local surface plasmons on metal nanoparticles is
crucial to control and manipulate localized light in nano-scale
for nano-sensing as well as transportation of opto-chemical
information in a nanospace. Our recent study demonstrates
that two dimensional giant crystals composed of silver
nanoparticles can efficiently trap and transport bulk light within
nanosheet. This flexible, transferable nanosheet is thepromising building block for various types of plasmonic devices.
Future biosensing devices require particular designs for themultiple detection of dynamic molecular information. Massive
data collected must be accumulated and analyzed
comprehensively, to be referred quickly and flexibly --- The
development of such advanced biosensing devices is highly
desired on reflection of present sensing systems, in which
nano-scaled local interactions and cooperative phenomena ofmolecules are omitted at the entrance (bio-interface).
Plasmonic devices composed of nanostructured materials withenhanced electromagnetic field will be a solution for thedetection of reaction dynamics with high spatiotemporal
resolution and sensitivity.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy

Plasmonic nanosheet composed of Ag nanoparticles

Research topics:
1. Propagating / local surface plasmons and waveguide modes
2. Plasmonic nanosheet composed of Ag nanoparticles
3. Design of devices based on nano-structured materials
4. Characterization of interfaces between various nanomaterials

Characterization of remote photocatalytic reaction of
Ti02 nanotube with Ag nanosheet27

2009‐2010(e)23〜28P̲2009‐2010(e)23〜28P 平成 21/08/22 8:56 ページ 28

Ubiquitous Communications System
Staff:
Shuzo KATO, Professor
Hiroyuki NAKASE, Associate Professor
Hirokazu SAWADA, Assistant Professor
H. SAWADA

S. KATO

H. NAKASE

Research activities:
Wireless communications technologies have been an
indispensable tool for our modern society ranging from radio/TV
sets to cellular phones and wireless LANs. Unfortunately it
requires a kind of professional knowledge to make full use ofwireless communications capability at present and it may needa bit more time to become for everybody to be able to use
wireless communications systems freely/unconsciously.
Moreover, the applications such as so called Digital Home andanti-disaster wireless communications and wireless medical
services for remote diagnosis/treatment are waiting to be
exploited.
The goal of this Research Group is to realize environments inwhich customers can communicate without worrying about theway to communicate but with a single terminal and with adesignated communications mode set by the customers' policy
such as best pricing, highest throughput and so on throughresearches on communications systems, terminals, propagation
characteristics and interference mitigation.
In this year, this Research Group will focus on the following
activities:(1) Research and development of mobile terminal mountablebeamforming antenna and power amplifiers for high data
rate millimeter wave wireless communications,(2) Basic technology development for higher quality wirelesscommunications,(3) Advanced cognitive radio technology development for
wireless communications systems and terminals to utilize
spectrum very efficiently; for one terminal to use multiple
frequency bands dynamically.
(4) Identifying applications suitable for 60 GHz wirelesscommunications. These applications include Super Digital
Home in which various electronic appliances are connectedby ultra high speed (such as 3 Gbps) millimeter wave
systems, Super Information Portal in which portableterminals with 60 GHz ultra high speed (such as 3 Gbps) I/O
and several 10 G bytes Flash memory will play an importantrole to change our business model such as DVD rental andthe concept of “portable PC”.
(5) Contributions to global standardization in technology and/or
leading global standardization (IEEE802.15.3c)) to thesuccess - to get our own / Japanese industry's ideas
standardized.

Image of Super Digital Home

Beam is formed at thedesired direction by
setting phase shifters

Millimeter wave beamforming antenna

Research topics:

1. Research and development of mobile terminal mountablebeamforming antenna and power amplifiers for high data
rate millimeter wave wireless communications
2. Propagation characterization for various applications
3. Enhanced modulation/demodulation, forward error correction
schemes
4. Fading and interference mitigation technologies
5. Cognitive radio (one terminal to use multiple frequency
bands dynamically)
6. Wireless system and terminal control (MAC) technologies
7. Application exploitation: Super Digital Home, Super
Information Portal, and remote wireless medical network
systems

28

Example of 60GHz propagation measurement2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 29

Computing Information
TheorySystems & Software
Division
Information
Contents

Communication Network
Systems

29

SoftwareConstruction

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 30

Software Construction

Staff:
Atsushi OHORI, Professor
Katsuhiro UENO, Assistant Professor
A. OHORI

K. UENO

Research activities:
Today's software systems are becoming more and more complicated
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
language that can directly represent various resources andautomatically detect potential inconsistencies among the components ina system.
Based on this general observation, our research aims at establishingboth firm theoretical basis and implementation method for flexible yet
reliable programming languages for advanced Internet computation.

Logical foundation for compilation

One direction toward this goal is to establish logical foundations forcompilation. We aim at establishing a proof-theoretical framework that
accounts for the entire process of compilation - including patternmatching, closure conversion, and code generation - as a series of
proof-transformations. Another research direction, which complements
to the above, is type-directed compilation method that can produce
efficient code for high-level programming languages. In addition to thosefoundational research, we are also developing a new practical ML-styleprogramming language that embodies some of our recent results suchas record polymorphism, rank1 polymorphism, and high-degree ofinteroperability with existing languages and databases.

Research topics:
1. Development of SML#, a new ML-style polymorphic programming
language
2. Logical foundations for compilation
3. Verification of low-level code
4. Type-directed compilation for polymorphic languages
5. Programming language design for dependable system software

30

SML#: A new polymorphic programming language

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 31

Computing Information Theory

Staff:
Yoshihito TOYAMA, Professor
Takahito AOTO, Associate Professor
Kentaro KIKUCHI, Assistant Professor
K. KIKUCHI

Y. TOYAMA

T. AOTO

Research activities:
Rewriting systems are mathematical formalisms which can offer both
flexible computing and effective reasoning with equations. Thus,
rewriting systems play an important role in various areas, such as
automated theorem proving, formula manipulation systems, algebraic
specifications, and functional and logic programming languages.
Our research focuses on important theoretical features of the rewriting

Proof by Equational Reasoning

paradigm, such as the Church-Rosser property, the termination
property, and the modular property. The goal of this research is toobtain a unified theory of functional-logic-algebraic systems.
Rewriting systems can provide a useful tool for programtransformations. We investigate this by developing a programtransformation system for functional programs which base theirsemantics on rewriting systems. As a theoretical framework, we pay
much attention to higher order rewriting and inductive theorem proving.
We are also interested in the design and analysis of automateddeduction systems which can offer both effective computation offunctional (or logic) programming languages and flexible reasoning of
automated theorem provers

Computation by Rewriting Systems

Research topics:
1. Rewriting theory
2. Foundations of softwares
3. Automated theorem provers

31

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 32

Communication Network Systems

Staff:
Norio SHIRATORI, Professor
Takuo SUGANUMA, Associate Professor
Debasish CHAKRABORTY, Visiting Associate Professor
Hideyuki TAKAHASHI, Research Fellow
Satoshi UTSUMI, Research Fellow

H. TAKAHASHI D. CHAKRABORTY
S. UTSUMI
T. SUGANUMA
N. SHIRATORI

Research activities:
Aiming towards the next generation ubiquitous stage we are pursuinga research on information and communication paradigm, called"Symbiotic computing". The purpose is to establish a method for thecomposition of flexible information and telecommunication system withthe co-existence of man and IT environment. Previously, ubiquitousenvironment was composed of two characteristics: mobility andpervasiveness. The symbiotic computing is a new paradigm ofinformation and communication, named as "Flexible computing" as thethird new axis in addition to the two axes, and is composed byintegrating all these three axes. The flexible computing is the basic of
the symbiotic computing capable of handling a wide range of problems,such as operational mistakes, traffic congestion, breakdown of nodes,
and various user requirements in a graceful manner. In the flexible
computing, these problems are regarded as "changes" in the system,
both external and internal. It absorbs these changes with its intelligence,
homeostasis, and evolution mechanism. It is a computing paradigm that
operates with stability while satisfying user and system provider'scriteria. We have been promoting both theoretical and experimental
researches based on the concept of flexible information network where
man and IT environment co-exist. Our focus also includes performance
evaluation of super-high-speed network and its efficient management.

Research topics:
1. Symbiotic computing: Theory and application
2. Symbiotic society and health-care/watch-over support
3. Integration of real space and digital space
4. Measurement and analysis of super-high-speed and wide-area
networks
5. Mobile network management

32

Concept of Symbiotic Computing

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 33

Information Contents

Staff:
Junji NUMAZAWA, Professor
Terumasa AOKI, Associate Professor
T. AOKI

J. NUMAZAWA

Research activities:
Information content is expected to be one of the most important
industries in 21st century in Japan because Japan does not keep enoughnatural resources. Actually Japan is now good at generating information
content in some fields such as animation, computer games etc.
However the circumstances around information content havedrastically been changing for a few years. The wide spread andrevolution of the Internet and mobile phones, upsurge of CGM(Consumer Generated Media), generalization of HDTV, population of
3D videos are the typical examples of these trends.
In our laboratory, we are discussing how information content shouldbe from a long-term’s point of view and furthermore tackling thefollowing research areas which we believe are especially important for
information content in the future.
・C omputer supported video creation technologies in order for
everyone, including not only experts but also beginners, to create anddistribute their own video content.
・V ideo comprehension technologies by computers in order to retrieve
and reuse video content.
・C reation, preservation, and distribution technologies for superpresence video content.

Fig.1 Collaborative Creation System over theInternet

Research topics:
1. Content Creation Technologies
Collaborative Movie Creation System over the Internet (Fig.1)
Automatic CG animation Creation System only by Scenario Input(Fig.2)
2. Content Archiving/Retrieval Technologies
High-performance Shot Boundary Detection Technology for Video
content (Fig. 3)
Automatic Metadata Insertion Technology for Retrieving Video Content
3. Content Distribution/Protection Technologies
Simple Broadcasting Technology over the Internet
CoFIP : Secure Content Distribution System with Tracing Function of
Illegal User
Moral Filtering Against User Uploaded Video Content
4. Next-generation Media Technologies
DFFI (Displa-free Floating Image) technology
33

Fig.2 Automatic CG Animation Creation System by
Scenario Input

Fig3 High‑performance Video shot boundary
Detection System

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 34

Semiconductor
Spintronics

Atomically Controlled
Processing

Laboratory for Nanoelectronics
and Spintronics

Nano‑Molecular Devices

Nano‑Spin
Memory34

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 35

Laboratory for Nanoelectronics
and Spintronics
Staff:
Director: Hideo OHNO, Professor
Ryutaro SASAKI, Technical Official
Sadao TSUCHIDA, Technical Official
Toshiyasu MEGURO, Research Fellow

H. OHNO T. MEGURO R. SASAKI S. TSUCHIDA

Research activities:
The Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics of the Research Institute of Electrical Communication wasestablished in 2004. Its purpose is to develop and establish the science and technology of nanoelectronics andspintronics for information technology, utilizing the facilities installed in the Nanoelectronics-and-Spintronics building
having 1300 m2 of cleanroom area. The Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics consists of four Sections:
Atomically Controlled Processing (Junichi Murota, Professor)
Semiconductor Spintronics (Hideo Ohno, Professor)
Nano-Molecular Devices (Michio Niwano, Professor)
Nano-Spin Memory (Shoji Ikeda, Associate Professor)
These Sections cooperatively carry out the research aimed at establishing nanoelectronics and spintronics, together withthe groups of Intelligent Nano-Integration System, Quantum-optical Information Technology, and Ultra-Broadband Signal
Processing and with the research groups of the Institute, the Graduate School of Engineering, the Graduate School ofInformation Science, Tohoku University, and nation-wide cooperative research projects in the field.

35

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 36

COE of International Research Collaboration in
Nanoelectronics
The aim of this program (FY2005-2009) is to build a system for international research collaboration, and establish COE
in research fields of “Fabrication and application of semiconductor 3D-nanostructures”, “Establishment and application of
spin-control technologies in semiconductors”, and “Realization and application of information processing using molecularnanostructures”.

International Symposium held in LNS, RIECInternational Workshop on New Group IV
Semiconductor Nanoelectronics (RIEC Symp.)(1st: May 27‑28, 2005; 2nd: October 2‑3, 2006;

3rd Int. Workshop on New Group IV
Semiconductor Nanoelectronics

3rd: November 8‑9, 2007, 4th: September 25‑27, 2008))

RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics(1st: February 8‑9, 2005; 2nd: February 15‑16, 2006;
3rd: October 31‑November 1, 2007, 4th: October 9‑10, 2008)

International Workshop on Nanostructure &Nanoelectronics
2nd RIEC Sympozsium on Spintronics‑
MgO‑based Magnetic Tunnel Junction‑
Left: Albert Fert (received 2007 Nobel
Prize in Physics); Right: Russel Cowburn(1st: November 21‑22, 2007)36

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 37

Atomically Controlled Processing

Staff:
Junichi MUROTA, Professor
Masao SAKURABA, Associate Professor
Katsutoshi SUGAWARA, Research Fellow
M. SAKURABA

J. MUROTA

K. SUGAWARA

Research activities:
For highly functional semiconductor devices with ultrahigh speed andultralow power for the Si LSIs, our atomically controlled processing
technology by control of Langmuir-type adsorption and reaction in CVD(Chemical Vapor Deposition) becomes important increasingly. Utilizing
the technology, we aim to create non-equilibrium strain-controlled SiGe-C group IV semiconductors with high carrier concentration and highcarrier mobility by advancing atomically controlled heteroepitaxial
growth of Si, Ge, SiGe, SiGeC and impurity (B, P, C, N and so on) tothe extremity. Moreover, we also aim to establish a technological basis
for highly controlled nanometer-order three-dimensional structureformation. In detail, the following researches are being advanced: (1)Control of extremely high carrier concentration due to non-equilibrium
atomically controlled heteroepitaxial growth which utilizing thermal andplasma-enhanced reaction and so on at low temperatures, (2)Modulation of energy band structure and carrier mobility due tointroduction of atomically controlled strain into Si and Ge, (3) Formationof the nanometer-order three-dimensional structure with subnanometer
precision in in-plane direction by breaking the limit of lithography
technology utilizing selective CVD epitaxial growth and selective etchingwith atomic layer control.
By the above researches, highly strained nanometer-order threedimensional structures and room temperature resonant tunnelingstructures with higher performance which exceeds the limit of physicalproperties in use of existing Si, SiGe alloy and Ge materials will becreated. Simultaneously, by applying them to device fabrication,
creation of group IV semiconductor quantum-effect nanodevice
applicable to the large scale integration will be expected.

Atomically controlled processing systems for group IV
semiconductors

Atomic lattice image of a SiGe heterostructuregrown by CVD at 500℃.

Research topics:
1. Atomically controlled heteroepitaxial growth of Si-Ge-C group IV
semiconductors
2. Atomic layer doping into nanometer-order heterostructures of group
IV semiconductors
3. Three-dimensional nanometer-order fabrication of group IV
semiconductor heterostructures
4. Control of properties in three-dimensional nanometer-order group IV
semiconductor heterostructures
5. Development of advanced CVD equipment for formation of threedimensional nanometer-order group IV semiconductor
heterostructures
6. Fabrication process of Si-based nanometer-order heterostructuredevices37

Atomically controlled processing for group IV
semiconductors.

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 38

Semiconductor Spintronics

Staff:
Hideo OHNO, Professor
Tomasz DIETL, Visiting Professor
Fumihiro MATSUKURA, Associate Professor
Keita OHTANI, Assistant Professor
Shunichiro MATSUZAKA, Research Fellow
Hiroyuki YAMAMOTO*, Research Fellow

Haruhiro HASEGAWA*, Visiting Professor
Yuzo OHNO, Associate Professor
Shoji IKEDA*, Associate Professor
Katsuya MIURA*, Research Fellow
Huadong GAN*, Research Fellow
Hiroki YAMAMOTO*, Research Fellow

H. GAN H. YAMAMOTO H. HASEGAWA S. MATSUZAKA K. OHTANI K. MIURA H. YAMAMOTO
F. MATSUKURA T. Dietl H. OHNO S. IKEDA Y. OHNO

Research activities:
Our research activities cover the areas of preparation,
characterization, and application of new classes of compound
semiconductors and their quantum structures for new functional highspeed devices, which can be realized by controlling the electronic andspin states in semiconductors. More specifically, our research is
focused on (1) Semiconductor Spintronics, where non-volatile spin
memory and new functionality based on the spin degree of freedom
using III-V based ferromagnetic/non-magnetic semiconductor
heterostructures are being explored, (2) THz-far infrared lasers basedon the intersubband optical transition in broken-gap semiconductor

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)‑ sputtering equipment for
the growth of III‑V based ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic
semiconductor heterostructures and magnetic metal
devices.

heterostructures (InAs/GaSb), (3) the quantum transport phenomena in
two-dimensional electron gases, and (4) non-volatile spin memories
based on magnetic metal devices.
Materials of interest include such nonmagnetic semiconductor
heterostructures as GaAs/AlAs and InAs/GaSb, and III-V based
ferromagnetic semiconductors such as (Ga,Mn)As and (In,Mn)As. All
these materials are prepared by Molecular Beam Epitaxy.

Research topics:
1. Semiconductor Spintronics
a. Properties and Application of III-V Based Ferromagnetic

Schematic of magnetization direction control by theapplication of electric‑filed.

Semiconductors and their Quantum Structures
b. Spin Memoryc. Spin Coherence in Semiconductor Nanostructures and Its
Application to Quantum Information Technology
2. Quantum Cascade Structures and Their Application to THz Optical
Devices
3. Growth and Characterization of Semiconductor Quantum NanoStructures
4. Magnetic Metal Devices and their Application to Nonvolatile Spin
Memories38

2Mb Spin‑Transfer Torque RAM (SPRAM) chipdeveloped in collaboration with Hitachi.
*Nano‑Spin Memory

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 39

Nano‑Molecular Devices

Staff:
Michio NIWANO, Professor
Yasuo KIMURA, Assistant professor
M. NIWANO

Y. KIMURA

Research activities:
Tremendous progress has been seen in recent years in thedevelopment of electronic devices as tiny as a single molecule andmolecular sensor devices that can carry out the tasks of both molecular
recognition and signaling. The continuously increasing amount of data
to be stored and manipulated is strong impetus in the search formolecular electronic devices that are fabricated from various moleculeswith unusual electrical and optical properties. The use of
supramolecules such as C60, organic metals and semiconductors, andbiomolecules such as DNA will open entirely new horizons in the field of
molecular device technology. The need to manipulate large amounts ofOrganic single crystal of rubrene and a polymer organic
semiconductor FET on a transparent substrate

genetic data requires the development of new types of bio-information
devices, which may be constructed by combining molecular device
technology with biotechnology.

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) of cells and infrared
spectroscopy for the analysis of cell functions

Research topics:
1. Bioanalysys using semiconductor surfaces (surface-biotronics)
2. Development of a bio-sensing system
3. Development of flexible devices using organic semiconductors
4. Nanoscale analysis and control of surfaces and interfaces of organic
molecular devices
5. Fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized solar cells
TiO 2 nanotubes fabricated by theelectrochemical method (application todye‑sensitized solar cells)

39

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 40

Real‑World
ComputingLaboratory for
Brainware
Systems

New Paradigm
VLSI System

Intelligent Nano‑Integration
SystemMicroarchitecture40

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 41

Laboratory for
Brainware Systems
Staff:
Director: Koji NAKAJIMA, Professor

K. NAKAJIMA

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), Brain Architecture(section), New Paradigm VLSI System (section), Microarchitecture (section), Cyber Robotics (planning section), and
Next-Generation Human Interface (planning 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
the Institute, and the research conducted in the Divisions, in turn, is expected to provide scientific basis for the information
technology developed in the Laboratory.

41

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 42

Real‑World Computing

Staff:
Masafumi YANO, Professor
Yoshinari MAKINO, Research Associate
Kazuhiro SAKAMOTO, Research Associate
Nozomi TOMITA, Research Fellow

K. SAKAMOTO

M. YANO

Y. MAKINO N. TOMITA

Research activities:
Our main aim is to understand highly harmonic and autonomous
biological-information systems in order to propose new designingprinciples for building innovative systems. Today, state-of-the-art robots
display a high level of performance in a predictable and regulated
environment. However, they display very poor performance in realworld: an unpredictable and unregulated environment. Why? Because
the controller of today's robots can only process learned information, it
requires all the necessary information in advance, and without that it will
fail to control its own body. Therefore, when the robots encounter new
information in an unknown environment they don’t have the ability toprocess it and consequently cannot adapt to a changing environment. In
contrast, biological systems such as human beings can create
information necessary to interpret external stimuli and to control
actuators in real-time, by appropriately recognizing and judging
unpredictable changes in the real-world.
To understand how living organisms create information, we study
biological mechanisms of object recognition, speech recognition,
learning and memory, and voluntary-movement control, with various
methods such as psychophysics, neurophysiology, computational
simulation, developing robot control system.

Research topics:
1. Mechanisms of learning and memory in olfaction
2. Speaker independent speech recognition by evaluating global
spectrum shape
3. Three-dimensional visual recognition by integrating motion vision andform vision
4. Real-time control mechanisms for voluntary movements

42

Manipulandum system for arm reaching movements.
By measuring motions under various external force
conditions, control mechanisms for voluntary
movements can be clarified.

2‑joint‑6‑muscle arm robot. By using the redundantactuators and the sensory information about thejoints and the actuators, the controller can create
movements appropriate to unpredictableenvironments.

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 43

Intelligent Nano‑Integration System

Staff:
Koji NAKAJIMA, Professor
Shigeo SATO, Associate Professor
Takeshi ONOMI, Assistant Professor
T. ONOMI K. NAKAJIMA S. SATO

Research activities:
Our research activities cover the fields of architectures of Braincomputing systems, characterization and application of artificial neuralnetworks, computer aided designs and fabrications of intelligent
integrated circuits, and exploitation of new devices for neural circuits.
We have constructed a stochastic artificial neural network with one
million synaptic units, analyzed the dynamic behaviour of neuralnetworks aiming at a time-dependent data processing, succeeded topropose a system where we are able to get off successfully from any
local minima fallen into on the way of data processing in neuralnetworks, and fabricated its prototype hardware system on the silicon
microchip by using the CMOS technology. We have also presented an
FFT and a neural system operated by using a flux quantum logic insuperconducting integrated circuits At present research is focused on

Microchip of a neural network

the large scale integration of Brain computing system and exploitationsof new neural devices proposing a neuromorphic quantum computation.

Research topics:
1. Basic architecture for integrated active Brain computers
2. Dynamic intelligent associative memory system
Microchip of a single flux‑quantum circuit

3. Neuromorphic quantum computation
4. Superconducting single flux-quantum data-processor

43

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:03 ページ 44

Microarchitecture

Staff:
Shoichi MASUI, Professor

S. MASUI

Research activities:
Ubiquitous society has been established by the deployment of various
wireless systems ICs, and it demands advances in mixed-signal (analog
and digital) design technique as well as higher integration through SoC(System on a Chip). Our research activities include architecture andcircuit design of mixed-signal SoCs, applicable to sensor network
systems for the investigation of brain activities researches along with
mixed-signal topdown design methodologies. Since a mixed-signal SoC
combines RF/analog and digital blocks to minimize cost and power
consumption, scaled CMOS technology must be used to minimize thedigital block area. However, the associated process variations andmismatch due to the scaling restrict performance of RF/analog circuits;
moreover, increasing mixed-signal design complexity tends to result in
the design time elongation and the increase of NRE.
Our approaches to solve these problems are to expand digitalassisted analog design techniques to realize mixed-signal platform, andto develop automatic design optimization flows for RF/analog circuit.
The mixed-signal platform includes the software-definable RF/analog
circuit and the integration of nonvolatile memory for the control of digitalbased analog calibration.
The planned research project will take advantage of collaborations
with semiconductor industries and EDA (Electronic Design Automation)
vendors and relationships with oversea universities and startup
companies.

Mixed‑Signal SoC and design hexagon

Transceiver IC for Sensor Network Systems

Research topics:
1. Mixed-signal SoC architecture and circuit design
2. Design automation and associated topdown design methodologies
for RF/analog circuits.
3. Design and applications of software-definable mixed-signal circuits
4. Design and applications of nonvolatile memory
Vision of Collaboration44

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 45

New Paradigm VLSI System

Staff:
Takahiro Hanyu, Professor
Masanori Natsui, Assistant Professor
Atsushi Matsumoto, Assistant Professor
T. HANYU

Research activities:
Rapid progress in recent deep submicron regime has led to thecapability to realize giga-scaled embedded systems on a chip, while thecommunication bottleneck between memory and logic modules has
increasingly become a serious problem. In addition, power dissipationand device-characteristic variation have been also the emerging
problems in the recent VLSI chip. In order to solve such the recent
VLSI problems causing performance and reliability degradation, we
focus on a “new-paradigm VLSI computing” concept that investigatesthe optimal design through all the VLSI design layers such as adevice/material design level, a circuit-architecture level, a logicsynthesis level, a system-architecture level, and an application-oriented
algorithm level. The use of “logic-in-memory VLSI architecture,” wherestorage elements are distributed over a logic-circuit plane, makes global
wires reduced greatly.

To implement a logic-in-memory VLSI

compactly, we utilize multi-functional and nonvolatile devices such as
ferroelectric devices, TMR (MTJ) devices and phase-change devices.
We are also focusing on other challenging research subjects concerningwith a new-paradigm VLSI computing system.

Preliminary researchsubjects in our laboratory are listed below:

Research topics:
1. Logic-in-memory VLSI architecture and its applications
2. Self-controllable VLSI processor and its applications
3. Information-communication super chips based on new-paradigm
VLSI architecture
4. Device-model-based new-paradigm VLSI computing architecture
5. Asynchronous-control/multiple-valued data representation-based
circuit for a high-performance Network-on-Chip

45

A. MATSUMOTO M. NATSUI2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 46

Project Planning Division
Technology Development
Division
Mobile Wireless Technology
Group

Research Center for21st Century Information
Technology
Technology Development
Division
Storage Technology Group

46

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 47

Research Center for 21st Century
Information Technology (IT‑21 Center)
Director: Kazuo TSUBOUCHI, Professor
Katsumi SAGAE, Technical Official

Project Planning Division

K. TSUBOUCHI

Makoto FURUNISHI, Professor

Technology Development Division
Development of Dependable Wireless System and Device
Project Leader : Kazuo TSUBOUCHI, Professor
Tadashi TAKAGI, Professor
Makoto IWATA, Visiting Professor

Development of Super High-Speed Mass Storage
HDD Systems
Project Leader : Hiroaki MURAOKA, Professor
IT‑21 Center

Hajime AOI, Visiting Professor
Takehito SHIMATSU, Associate Professor
Kiyoshi YAMAKAWA, Visiting Associate Professor

The purpose of the IT-21 center is development of practicaltechnologies for IT based on the advanced 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 both basic technologies in the
University and application in the Industry. Combination of thetechnologies of the University and Industry makes practicaltechnologies with availability for the commercial products. The
center actively accelerates to obtain the intellectual properties
generated from the development of practical technology to theIndustry.

47

K. SAGAE

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 48

Project Planning Division
Staff:
Makoto FURUNISHI, Professor
We are participating in establishing R&D strategy not only for the
Research Center for 21st Century Information Technology (IT-21
Center) but also for the Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication (RIEC).
1. Plan for R&D

M. FURUNISHI

2. Plan for Co‑operation with Industries

Our goal is to participate in and contribute to national

Besides presenting our idea about the application of the

projects based on the government’s science and technology

intellectual property rights, we introduced a model

policy. We play as a liaison office to the research team thatcooperation framework in which “Development of superwas established in the President Office for collecting

high-speed mass storage HDD systems” is carried out withinformation on grant schemes, etc..

business enterprises on the basis of equal partnerships.

Succeeding the IT projects implemented since 2002FY

Aiming at realization of collaborative researches, we alsosponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,

coordinate and promote technology exchanges with

Science and Technology (MEXT), we launched in 2007FY a

research organizations with which RIEC has concluded

project, “Development of super high-speed mass storage

comprehensive co-operation agreements.

HDD systems” headed by Prof. Muraoka under the MEXT’s
scheme of “Research and Development for Next-Generation

We plan to issue an article about an ideal university industry relationship based on our experiences.

Information Technology”, as well as a project, “Developmentof CMOS Wireless LAN by 3D SiP” headed by Prof.

3. Plan for Publications

Tsubouchi, under the scheme of the Core Research forWorking with the RIEC Flexible Information Research

Evolutional Science and Technology sponsored by theCenter, we are providing patent information on our Web

Japan Science and Technology Agency.

sites. We are compiling the results of R&D under the IT

We also held a seminar or an explanatory meeting for our

Project that ended 2007FY and publishing a brochure on thegoal.

activities of the IT-21 center.

Explanatory Meeting about JST Grant Scheme

Seminar on Research & Development Strategy

48

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 49

Technology Development Division
Mobile Wireless Technology Group
Staff:
Tadashi TAKAGI, Professor
Makoto IWATA, Visiting Professor
T. TAKAGI

M. IWATA

Research activities:
Mobile wireless communication technology is one of the significant
communication technologies that supports the IT society, connectedwith the high-speed backbone network using optical fiber. Evolution of
the mobile wireless communication technology in Japan is
indispensable to keep the leadership in this technology area in theworld.
With the partnership of Japanese major mobile wireless

324Mbit/s 5GHzBand
WLAN terminal

Ultra small sized SiP
millimetor wave wirelessterminal for
uncompressed HDTV

manufacturers and Japanese Type I carrier, the mobile wirelesstechnology group of IT-21 center has been developing ultra high speed
wireless communication technology and an ultra small wireless terminalby using 3D system-chip and using high density packaging for next
generation mobile wireless communication. As a result, so far, (1)324Mbit/s, 5GHz band wireless LAN terminal, (2) ultra small sized SiP
millimeter wave wireless terminal for uncompressed HDTV transmission
have been successfully developed, and (3) seamless handovertechnology for wide area broadband mobile wireless access (MBWA)
and seamless roaming technology between MBWA and wireless LAN
have been successfully demonstrated by field tests.
From 2007, the mobile wireless technology group will make aprogress toward development of advanced practical technologies for
new concept Wireless-NGN (Universal Radio) which integrates all
wireless systems. In addition, our group has a will for contributing to theindustry in Sendai area such as build up venture companies based on
the developed practical technologies.

Research topics:
1. Broadband wireless communication technologies for Wireless-NGN
2. High-speed and high frequency mixed signal Si system chip for
Universal Radio

49

MBWA field test (Base station)

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 50

Technology Development Division
Storage Technology Group
Staff:
Kazuhisa FUJIMOTO, Professor
Takehito SHIMATSU, Associate Professor
Kaname MITSUZUKA, Research Fellow
Masaki YAMADA, Research Fellow
Junichi SAYAMA, Research Fellow
Yuichi OSAWA, Research Fellow

Hajime AOI, Visiting Professor
Kiyoshi YAMAKAWA, Visiting Associate Professor
Hiromasa TAKAHASHI, Research Fellow
Hideki SAGA, Research Fellow
Hirotoshi AKAIKE, Research Fellow
Hiroyasu KATAOKA, Research Fellow

K. YAMAKAWA K. MITSUZUKA M. YAMADA H. AKAIKE H. KATAOKA H. SAGA
H. TAKAHASHI T. SHIMATSU
K. FUJIMOTO
H. AOIY. OSAWA

Research activities:
High density and high data-rate hard disk drive (HDD) information
storage technologies are core technologies for IT infrastructure. In
Japanese universities, only the Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication (RIEC) has maintained a comprehensive progress of
research into information storage technology, including materials,
devices and theory.
In March 2007, the IT21 cooperative research project between
industry, academia and government was successfully finished. An ultrahigh small perpendicular magnetic recording prototype HDD and basic
technologies for densities of 0.5 to 1 Tbits/inch2 were developed during

MFM images of a L11‑CoPt patterned films (One offundamental technologies to realize densities of over2 Tbits/in2.

the project.
A new project ;Development of super high-speed mass storage HDD
systems started in August 2007 under the collaborations between RIEC
including IT21 storage technology group, major Japanese HDD
manufacturers and other laboratories researching related technologies
within Tohoku University.
The goals of this project are to develop the perpendicular recording
technologies required for higher than 2 Tbits/inch2 recording density
and, based on these technologies, to develop the system architecture
for realizing large capacity, high performance and low power
consumption storage systems.
2‑dimension data allocation method with an accessprediction

Research topics:
1. Development of fundamental technologies for the recording densities
over 2 Tb/inch2; high sensitivity sensors, high recording resolution
SPT writers and high-density media including patterned media.
2. Development of a system architecture for high performance and low
power consumption storage systems.

50

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 51

Fundamental Technology Center

Flexible Information System Research Center
Fundamental Technology Center
Management Office for Safety and HealthFlexible Information System
Research Center51

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 52

Flexible Information System Research Center

Staff:
Director: Yôiti SUZUKI, Professor
Yoshihito TOYAMA, Professor*
Gen KITAGATA, Associate Professor

Tetsuo KINOSHITA, Professor*
Kazuto SASAI, Assistant Professor
Y. SUZUKI

G. KITAGATA

Research activities:
The present information systems such as computers are inflexible
systems, because their purpose is predefined and they provide only the
fixed procedures and functions. On the other hand the flexible
information system can perform the flexible information processing
adapted to the human intention and situation of its environment.
Our goal is to investigate principles of the flexible information
processing through the theories and experiments, and establish theirsystem construction methodology. Moreover, we also study the flexible
distributed systems for advanced organization, utilization,
administration, operation and putting out scientific information. Throughpractical applications of above results to the real network in RIEC, we
confirm effectiveness of our methods.

Network room

Research topics:
1. Information collection, organization, dispatching, utilization andresearch support environment.
2. Advanced maintenance, management and operation of network.
3. Relation between technology and ethics.
4. Perceptual information processing of living bodies and intelligent UIand OA.

Flexible Global Network

52

K. SASAI

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 53

Fundamental Technology Center

Staff:
Director: Michio NIWANO, Professor
Nobuyuki SATO, Assistant Professor
Yasuo WAGATSUMA, Technical Official
Shigeto AGATSUMA, Technical Official
Koichi SHOJI, Technical Official
Tamotsu SUENAGA, Technical Official
Takeshi YAMASHITA, Technical Official
Maho ABE, Technical Official
Keisuke SATO, Technical Official
Kento ABE, Technical Official
Hiroshi WATANABE, Technical Official
Munetomo SUGAWARA, Technical Official Yuji KONNO, Technical Official
Ryuji YONEZAWA, Technical Official
Choichi TAKYU, Technical Official
The fundamental technology center will use its advanced specialist
knowledge and technology to provide close technical support for inhouse research. The university views the development of cutting-edge
research and technology as one of its major roles in contributing tosociety, and needs to sustain and develop its existing system for
cultivating and transmitting advanced knowledge and technology inorder to carry out this role. Based on this philosophy, the center will
establish and support four research divisions: machine shop, evaluation,
process, and software technology.
In addition to developing and manufacturing research devices in
response to requests from all research fields and experimental facilities
and developing advanced machining technology, the machine shop
division will provide machining instruction to students and faculty
members. The evaluation division will be a joint-use facility for both inhouse researchers and researchers in the fields of electrical andinformation systems in the engineering research department, internal
research, joint project research. It will be responsible for themeasurement, evaluation and analysis of electric and electronicmaterials, electronic devices and systems, the maintenance and control
of common measuring devices and equipment, the production ofscientific glassware, and the supply of liquid nitrogen and liquid helium.
The process division is responsible for the manufacture and processingof all types of electronic materials and devices, and the development
and manufacture of the testing equipment necessary for this. It will also
provide research support to all research fields by maintaining andcontrolling common processing devices and clean rooms. The software
technology division will maintain, control and operate the networks, bothin-house and for associated research facilities. Furthermore, it will
provide a service for gathering, organizing and using academic
information, to support all research fields and aid in the publication of
their results.
Each division, through cooperation with all other divisions, will provide
research support and technical and safety instruction to students andfaculty members.

53

T. SUENAGA Y. KONNO K. SATO H. WATANABE R. YONEZAWA C. TAKYU Y. WAGATSUMA
K. ABE S. AGATSUMA M. SUGAWARA M. NIWANO M. ABE T. YAMASHITA S. SATO K. SHOJI

Silicon electrode holder

Focused Ion Beam System (FIB)

Electron Probe X‑ray Micro Analyser (EPMA)

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 54

Management Office for Safety and Health

Staff:
Manager: Michio NIWANO, Professor
Deputy Manager: Yoichi UEHARA, Professor
Nobuyuki SATO, Assistant Professor

The Management Office for Safety and Health is an organization withthe objective of maintaining the health and safety of staff and students
working at the institute. The use of chemicals, high-pressure gas andradiation in research activities at the institute entails many risks. The
Management Office for Safety and Health provides support for safety
and health management in facilities such as research laboratories,
experimental facilities, and machine shops through various activities toensure that research activities within the institute are conducted safely
and smoothly.
With respect to safety and health management, the Safety and HealthCommittee, comprising the Director, staff at the institute and industrial
physicians, discusses various matters related to safety and health andthe maintenance of the safety and health management system at theinstitute, and submits recommendations to the Director and FacultyCouncil. The Director and Faculty Council then finalize guidelines asadvised by the contents of these recommendations. The guidelines arethen implemented into actual safety and health management operations
at each of the facilities such as research laboratories.
Under collaboration with these organizations, the Management Officefor Safety and Health takes charge of practices related to safety andhealth, and operates to ensure safety and convenience in research
activities at the institute.

Safety and health seminar

Activity contents:
1. Inspection of and assistance in improving the safety and healthmanagement system and working environment within the institute.
2. Investigation of laws related to safety and health and collection of
information regarding safety and health management.
3. Provision of advice and information to safety and health personnel ineach department.
4. Implementation of various types of safety education targeted at staff
and students.
5. Liaison and coordination with the supervisory authority and otherdepartments on campus.

54

High‑pressure gas seminar2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 55

Research Activities
Study Groups on Electrical Communication

Study Groups on Electrical Communication are organized to solve scientific and technological problems andto promote research and development through the collaboration of the Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication, Group of ECEI (Electrical Engineering, Communication Engineering, Electronic Engineering,and Information Engineering)in Graduate Schools of Engineering, Information Sciences, Biomedical
Engineering, related scientists and engineers inside and outside Tohoku University. The Study Groups on
Electrical Communication consist of 14 Sub-Groups as listed, to deal with specific subjects. Each Sub-Groupholds workshops and the abstracts of the workshops are published annually in The Record of Electrical andCommunication Engineering Conversazione Tohoku University.
Many scientists and engineers not only from universities but also from government laboratories andindustries attend the workshops, present papers, and discuss issues very actively. We are pleased to provide
information on these activities upon request. Please contact the General Chairman or each Sub-Group
Chairman for general information or more specific questions.

Title of Sub-GroupElectromagnetic and Optical Waves Engineering

New Paradigm Computing

Acoustic Engineering

Ultrasonic Electronics

Sendai "Plasma Forum"

Brainware

Sendai Seminar on EMC

Mathematical Physics and its Application

Computer Science

to Information Sciences

Systems Control

Biocybernetics and Bioinformatics

Information-biotronics

Nanoelectronics and Spintronics

Spinics

The 7th International Symposium55

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 56

Symposiums Organized by the InstituteThis Symposium is planned to exchange relevant information on current important topics concerning
Electrical Eng., Electrical Communications, Electronic Eng., and Information Eng. Many related researchers
inside and outside Tohoku University participate the Symposium and stimulate discussion.
Past Symposium
1

Title

Date

Quantum Electronics of Light 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 Intelligence

Mar. 8- 9, 1966

4

Thin Film Electronics

Jan.26-27, 1967

5

Crystal GrowthDec.19-20, 1967

61968 Sendai Symposium on Acoustelectronics

7

Current Status and Future Trends of Superconductivity

Jan.22-24, 19708

Speech Information Processing

Feb.24-26, 19719

Surface Acoustic Wave Technology

May.25-26, 1972

Aug.19-20, 196810

Liquid Crystals • Their Molecular Orientations and Application to Display Devices

Dec.13-14, 1974

11

Computer Network

Mar.17-18, 1975

12

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

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

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

Nov. 4- 6, 1997

International Symposium organized by the Institute
Title
1

Date

Intrinsic Josephson Effect and THz Plasma Oscillation in High Tc Superconductors

Feb.23-25, 19972

Design and Architecture of Information Processing Systems Based on The Brain Information Principle

Mar.16-18, 1998

3

Novel Techniques and Applications of Millimeter-Waves

Dec.14-16, 1998

4

The International Joint Conference on Silicon Epitaxy and Heterostructures

Sep.13-17, 1999

5

International Workshop on Photonic and Electromagnetic Crystal Structures

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

3rd International Workshop on High Frequency Micromagnetic Devices and Materials (MMDM3)

Apr.11-12, 2005

13

4th International Conference on Silicon Epitaxy and Heterostructures (ICSI-4)

May.23-26, 2005

14

1st International WorkShop on New Group IV Semiconductor Nanoelectronics

May.27-28, 2005

15

GSIS International Symposium on Information Sciences of New Era: Brain, Mind and Society

Sep.26-27, 200516

The 1st RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics -Spin Transfer Phenomena-

Feb.8-9, 2006

4th International Workshopn on High Frequency Micromagnetic Devices and Materials (MMDM4)
4th International Conference on Physics and Applications of Spin-Related Phenomena in Semiconductors (PASPS-IV)

May 8,2006

18
19

2nd International Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor Nanoelectronics

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

23

The 3rd RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics

Oct. 31-Nov.1,2007

24

3rd International Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor Nanoelectronics

Nov.8-9,2007

25

International Workshop on Nanostructures & Nanoelectronics

Nov.21-22,2007

26

The 18th International Symposium on Algorithms and Computation(ISAAC2007)

27

International Interdisciplinary-Symposium on Gaseous and Liquid Plasmas (ISGLP 2008)

Sep.5-6,2008

28

4th International Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor Nanoelectronics

Sep.25-27,2008

29

The 4rth RIEC International Workshop on Spintronics

Oct.9-10,2008

17

56

Aug.15-18,2006

Dec.17-19,2007

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 57

Periodicals Published by the Institute

The Institute publishes the following two periodicals to inform readers on recent research results of theInstitute.
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 theresult of the Graduate Schools of Engineering, Information Sciences, Biomedical Engineering. Since thejournal also aims at publishing general research activities of the Institute and of the Graduate Schools suchas 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 Tôhoku 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 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 and researchfacility. 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 version is also avairable since 2007.

57

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 58

Educational Activities

The Institute is keeping close contact with the
Graduate Schools of Engineering, Information
Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, not only inresearch activities but also in educational activities.
For example, all the members of the faculties of theInstitute also hold positions with the faculties of thefour Departments and give lectures there. Moreover,undergraduate and graduate school students related to
the Departments belong to the laboratories of theInstitute for their theses. In 2009, there are 57 undergraduate students, 143 masters course students, and74 doctors course students belonged to the Institute.
Other than the students, Institute’s research
students, Research Fellow of JSPS, and JSPS
Postdoctral Foreign Researchers also engage in
research activities in cooperation with the staff of theInstitute.

Presentation scene at a workshop

Seminar scene at a laboratory

Marathon relay race

Weed out‑the‑garden‑and‑Drink‑beer‑there Meeting58

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 59

International Activities
Many of the staff in RIEC contribute to the development of technology and science in the world by serving
as editors of referees of international journals or by chairing or programming international conferences. In
some fields in electronics, electrical communications, 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 are in operation.

International academic exchange
programs:
The Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)
The Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn 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, SungKyun-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, Universityof Naujing (China)
School of Computer and Communication Engineering, Taegu
University (Korea)
Reesarch Center of Condensed Materials and Nanosciences,
National Center for Scientific Research (France)
IHP-Innovations for High Performance microelectronics (Germany)
Institute of Semiconductors Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

International journals in which a staff in
RIEC participates as an editor:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Acoustical Science and Technology
Applied Acoustics
Electronics Express
International Journal of Communication Systems (IJCS)International Journal of Infrared, Millimeters, andterahertz Waves
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, The Institute ofPure and Applied Physics
Journal of Applied Physics
Journal of Communications and Network (JCN)
Journal of Higher - Order and Symbolic Computation
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Optical Fiber Technology
Optics Communications
Smiconductor Science and Technology, Institute ofPhysics
Solid State Communications
Superlattices and Microstructures
Virtual Journal of Nano scale Science and Technology,
American Institute of Physics / America PhysicalSociety

International conferences programmed by astaff in RIEC:
1. 14th International Conference on Modulated
Semiconductor Structures ( MSS-14 2009)
2. 1st International Workshop on Si based nanoelectronics and -photonics (SiNEP-09)
3. 2009 International Conference on Solid State Devices
and Materials (SSDM)
4. Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision 2010
5. 20th International Colloquim on Magnetic Films andSurfaces, 200959

6. 2nd Semiconductor Technology for Ultra Large Scale
Integrated Circuits and Thin Film Transistors (ULSIC vs. TFT)
7. 38th International School & Conference on the Physics
of Semiconductors "Jaszowiec" 2009
8. 5th Int. Workshop on New Group IV Semiconductor
Nanoelectronics
9. 5th International Conference on Molecular Electronics
and Bioelectronics (M&BE5)
10. 5th International School and Conference on Spintronics
and Quantum Information Technology, 2009
11. 5th RIEC Int. Workshop on Spintronics, RIEC-CNSIWorkshop on Nanoelectronics, Spintronics andPhotonics, 200912. 6th International Conference on Silicon Epitaxy andHeterostructures (ICSI-6)
13. Engineering Conference International (ECI), 2009
14. European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC)
15. European Solid-State Device Research Conference(ESSDERC)
16. Fuji International Symposium on Functional and Logic
Programming (FLOPS2008)
17. Global Symposium on Millimeter Waves 2009
(GSMM2009)
18. IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on
Multiple-Valued Logic (TCMVL)
19. IEEEInternational
Magnetics
Conference(INTERMAG2009)
20. International Conference of Magnetism (ICM 09)
21. International Conference on Indium Phosphide andRelated Materials ・(IPRM2010)
22. International Conference on infrared, Millimeter, andTerahertz waves
23. International Symposium on Graphene Devices
24. International Symposium on Surface Science andNanotechnology (ISSS-5)
25. International Workshop on the Principles andApplication of Spatial Hearing
26. Sixth International Conference on Physics andApplication of Spin-related Phenomena in
Semiconductors (PASPS) 2010
27. SPIE Defense and Security Conference 200928. Symp. E10: "ULSI Process Integration6", 216th
Meeting of the Electrochem. Soc.
29. The 11th Joint MMM-Intermag Conference 2010
30. The 2010 International Conference on Computational
Science and Its Applications (ICCSA2010)
31. The 20th Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio
Communications Symposium 2009 (PIMRC '09)
32. The 8th Pacific Rim Conference on lasers and ElectroOptics (CLEO/PR20 ・ 09)
33. The ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Types in Language
Design and Implementation (TLDI2009)
34. The Eighth Perpendicular Magnetic Recording
Conference (PMRC)
35. The Korean Magnetic Society
36. The Sixth International Conference on UbiquitousIntelligence and Computing (UIC2009)
37. Topical Workshop on Heterostructure Microelectronics(TWHM)
38. International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and its
Applications (NOLTA)

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 60

RIEC Open Day

The Research Institute of Electrical Communication holds
an open day every year in order to present our research andeducational activities to the public, university staff, students
and alumni and to representatives from the industrial sector.
On Oct. 4(Sat)-5(Sun), 2008, all the research laboratories,
research centers and machine shops of RIEC exhibited
various types of demonstration focused on their respective
research field and activities.
Demonstration experiments were organized for groundbreaking accomplishments of the RIEC, such as Magnetrontube and Steel recorder. Experiments of recent researchwere also conducted such as ultra-high speed datatransmission using photonic fiber, learning next generation
language SML#, counting quantum and photon, and .
Workshops relating to the creation of simple anime movies,
the play by vision, the building of a germanium radio, thedevelopment of a solar battery from a hibiscus plant, and thefabrication of spectrometer for probing color and atoms were
presented.
We sincerely hope for your participation in our open day.
We will be holding the open day 2009 on Oct. 10(Sat) and11(Sun). Simple and easy explanations of our research labs
are also available on the Internet. This site is accessible toeveryone at any time. Please feel free to access our virtual
RIEC open day at:
http://www.riec.tohoku.ac.jp/koukai/index.html(Available in Japanese only)60

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 61

Staff (as of 1st July 2009)
Director:Masafumi YANO,
Professor■ Research Divisions
Information Devices Devision• Nano-photoelectronics
Yoichi UEHARA, Professor
Tatsuo UCHIDA, Professor*
Tetsuya MIYASHITA, Associate Professor*
Satoshi KATANO, Assistant Professor• Quantum-optical
Information Technology
Keiichi EDAMATSU, Professor
Mitsuyuki NAKAO, Professor*
Hideo KOSAKA, Associate Professor
Norihiro KATAYAMA, Associate Professor*
Yasuyoshi MITSUMORI, Assistant Professor
Atsushi SHOJI, Research Fellow• Solid State Electronics
Maki SUEMITSU, Professor
Takashi ITO, Professor*
Koji KOTANI, Associate Professor*
Hirokazu FUKIDOME, Assistant Professor• Dielectric Nano-Devices
Yasuo CHO, Professor
Sinichiro UMEMURA, Professor*
Yoshiomi HIRANAGA, Assistant Professor
Nobuhiro KIN, Assistant Professor
Yasuo WAGATSUMA, Technical Official
Noriaki OKAZAKI, Research Fellow• Plasma Electronics
Akira ANDO, Professor*
Satoru IIZUKA, Associate Professor*• Materials Functionality
DesignMasafumi SHIRAI, Professor
Kazuyuki TANAKA, Professor*
Yuji WAIZUMI、Lecturer*
Yoshio MIURA, Assistant Professor
Kazutaka ABE, Assistant Professor• Magnetic Devices（Visitor Section）
Masahide SASAKI, Visiting Professor
Koichiro HONDA, Visiting Professor
Sergey FILIMONOV,Visiting Associate Professor

Broadband Engineering Division• Ultrahigh-speed OpticalCommunication
Masataka NAKAZAWA, Professor
Hirohito YAMADA, Professor*
Yuji MATSUURA, Professor*
Toshihiko HIROOKA, Associate Professor
Yasuo OHDERA, Associate Professor*
Masato YOSHIDA, Assistant Professor• Applied Quantum Optics
Hiroshi YASAKA, Professor
Hiroyuki YOKOYAMA Professor*
Jun-ichi SHIKATA, Associate Professor
Takashi WATANABE, Associate Professor*• Wireless Info Tech
Kazuo TSUBOUCHI, Professor
Jun-ichi KUSHIBIKI, Professor*
Suguru KAMEDA, Assistant Professor• Information Storage
Systems
Hiroaki MURAOKA, Professor
Takao NISHIZEKI, Professor*
Simon J. GREAVES, Associate Professor
Xiao ZHOU, Associate Professor*
Kenji MIURA, Assistant Pofessor• Ultra-Broadband Signal
Processing
Taiichi OTSUJI, Professor
Fumiyuki ADACHI, Professor*
Tetsuya SUEMITSU, Associate Professor• Basic Technology for
Broadband Communication（Visitor Section）
Koji MIZUNO, Visiting Professor

61

Masaaki INUTAKE, Visiting Professor
Akira YASUDA, Visiting Professor
Noriharu SUEMATSU, Visiting Professor
Atsufumi HIROHATA, Visiting Associate Professor

Human Information Systems Division• Electromagnetic
Bioinformation Engineering
Kazushi ISHIYAMA, Professor
Masahiro YAMAGUCHI, Professor*
Kotaro HAMASHIMA, Professor*
Satoru TSUDA, Associate Professor*
Yasushi ENDO, Associate Professor*
Shuichiro HASHI, Assistant Professor• Advanced Acoustic
Information Systems
Yôiti SUZUKI, Professor
Shozo MAKINO, Professor*
Hiroshi KANAI, Professor*
Yukio IWAYA, Associate Professor
Akinori ITO, Associate Professor*
Hideyuki HASEGAWA, Associate Professor*
Masakazu KAWASHITA Associate Professor*
Shuichi SAKAMOTO, Assistant Professor
Fumitaka SAITO, Technical Official
Maori KOBAYASHI, Research Fellow
Wataru TERAMOTO, Research Fellow• Visual Cognition and
Systems
Satoshi SHIOIRI, Professor
Makoto YOSHIZAWA, Professor*
Ichiro KURIKI, Associate Professor
Noriyasu HOMMA, Associate professor*
Kazumichi MATSUMIYA, Assistant Professor
Mitsuharu OGIYA, Research Fellow
Kazuya MATSUBARA, Research Fellow• Interdisciplinary Field forInformatics
Kaoru TAMADA, Professor
Vincent CRAIG, Visiting Associate Professor

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 62• Ubiquitous Communications
SystemShuzo KATO, Professor
Kunio SAWAYA, Professor*
Hiroyuki NAKASE, Associate Professor
Qiang CHEN, Associate Professor*
Xiaohong JIANG, Associate Professor*
Hirokazu SAWADA Assistant Professor• Multimodal Computing（Visitor Section）
Susumu KAWAKAMI, Visiting Professor
Tatsuya HIRAHARA, Visiting Professor
Ryouichi NISHIMURA, Visiting Associate Professor

Systems & Software Division• Software Construction
Atsushi OHORI, Professor
Naoki KOBAYASHI, Professor*
Eijiro SUMII, Associate Professor*
Katsuhiro UENO, Assistant Professor• Computing Information
TheoryYoshihito TOYAMA, Professor
Hiroki SHIZUYA, Professor*
Ayumi,SHINOHARA, Professor*
Takahito AOTO, Associate Professor
Shinichiro OMACHI, Associate Professor*
Masao SAKAI, Lecturer*
Kentaro KIKUCHI, Assistant Professor• Communication Network
Systems
Norio SHIRATORI, Professor
Hiroumi SAITO, Professor*
Hideaki SONE, Professor*
Takuo SUGANUMA, Associate Professor
Debasish CHAKRABORTY, Visiting Associate Professor
Takaaki MIZUKI, Associate Professor*
Hideyuki TAKAHASHI, Research Fellow
Satoshi UTSUMI, Research Fellow• Information Contents
Junji NUMAZAWA, Professor
Nei KATO, Professor*

Tetsuo KINOSHITA, Professor*
Terumasa AOKI, Associate Professor
Toru ABE, Associate Professor*• Information Social Structure（Visitor Section）
Hiroshi MATSUOKA, Visiting Professor
Elias DUARTE, Visiting Professor■R esearch Facilities
Laboratory for Nanoelectronics
and Spintronics
Director : Hideo OHNO, Professor
Ryutaro SASAKI, Technical Official
Sadao TSUCHIDA, Technical Official
Toshiyasu MEGURO, Research Fellow• Atomically Controlled
Processing
Junichi MUROTA, Professor
Michitaka KAMEYAMA, Professor*
Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Professor*
Masao SAKURABA, Associate Professor
Masanori HARIYAMA, Associate Professor*
Katsutoshi SUGAWARA, Research Fellow• Semiconductor
Spintronics
Hideo OHNO, Professor
Migaku TAKAHASHI, Professor*
Masashi SAHASHI, Professor*
Yuzo OHNO, Associate Professor
Fumihiro MATSUKURA, Associate Professor
Masakiyo TSUNODA, Associate Professor*
Masaaki DOI, Associate Professor*
Shin SAITO, Associate Professor*
Keita OHTANI, Assistant Professor
Shunichiro MATSUZAKA, Research Fellow• Nano-Molecular Devices
Michio NIWANO, Professor
Rikizo HATAKEYAMA, Professor*
Tatsuo YOSHINOBU, Professor*
Toshiro KANEKO, Associate Professor*
Ayumi HIRANO, Associate Professor*
Yasuo KIMURA, Assistant Professor

62

Nobuyuki SATO, Assistant Professor• Nano-Spin Memory
Haruhiro HASEGAWA, Visiting Professor
Mitsumasa KOYANAGI, Professor*
Yasuo ANDO, Professor*
Tetsuo ENDOH, Professor*
Tetsu TANAKA, Professor*
Shoji IKEDA, Associate Professor
Mikihiko OOGANE, Assistant Professor*
Huadong GAN, Research Fellow

Laboratory for Brainware Systems
Director : Koji NAKAJIMA, Professor• Real-World Computing
Masafumi YANO, Professor
Junji TADA, Designated Professor
Hidetoshi MATSUKI, Professor*
Akio ISHIGURO, Professor*
Fumihiro SATO, Associate Professor*
Yoshinari MAKINO, Assistant Professor
Kazuhiro SAKAMOTO, Assistant Professor
Nozomi TOMITA, Research Fellow• Intelligent NanoIntegration System
Koji NAKAJIMA, Professor
Masayuki KAWAMATA, Professor*
Shigeo SATO, Associate Professor
Masahide ABE, Associate Professor*
Takeshi ONOMI, Assistant Professor• Microarchitecture
Shoichi MASUI, Professor• New Paradigm VLSI
SystemTakahiro HANYU, Professor
Osamu ICHINOKURA, Professor*
Takafumi AOKI, Professor*
Kenji NAKAMURA, Associate Professor*
Atsushi MATSUMOTO, Assistant Professor
Masanori NATSUI, Assistant Professor
Naoya ONIZAWA, Research Fellow
Shoun MATSUNAGA, Research Fellow

2009‐2010(e)29〜63P̲2009‐2010(e)29〜63P 平成 21/08/22 9:04 ページ 63

Research Center for 21st Century
Information Technology
Director : Kazuo TSUBOUCHI, Professor
Katsumi SAGAE, Technical Official• Project Planning Division
Makoto FURUNISHI, Professor• Technology Development
Division▲ Mobile Wireless Technology Group
Tadashi TAKAGI, Professor
Makoto IWATA, Visiting Professor▲ Storage Technology Group
Kazuhisa FUJIMOTO, Professor
Hajime AOI, Visiting Professor
Yoshihisa NAKAMURA, Visiting Professor
Koki TAKANASHI, Professor*
Osamu KITAKAMI, Professor*
Takehito SHIMATSU, Associate Professor
Satoshi OKAMOTO, Associate Professor*
Kiyoshi YAMAKAWA, Visiting Associate Professor
Nobuaki KIKUCHI, Assistant Professor*
Kaname MITSUZUKA, Research Fellow■Management Office for
Safety and HealthManager : Michio NIWANO, Professor*
Deputy Managerr : Yoichi UEHARA, Professor*
Nobuyuki SATO, Assistant Professor■ Common Research
Facility■ Fundamental Technology
CenterDirector : Michio NIWANO, Professor*
Yasuo WAGATSUMA, Technical Official• Machine Shop Division
Tamotsu SUENAGA, Technical Officail
Takeshi YAMASHITA, Technical Official
Keisuke SATO, Technical Official
Kento ABE, Technical Official
Hiroshi WATANABE, Technical Official
Munetomo SUGAWARA, Technical Official
Ryuji YONEZAWA, Technical Official• Evaluation Division
Kouichi SHOJI, Technical Official
Shigeto AGATSUMA, Technical Official
Maho ABE, Technical Official
Yuji KONNO, Technical Official
Sadao TSUCHIDA, Technical Official• Process Division
Yasuo WAGATSUMA, Technical Official
Katsumi SAGAE, Technical Official
Ryutaro SASAKI, Technical Official
Choichi TAKYU, Technical Official
Toshiyasu MEGURO, Research Fellow• Software Technology
Division
Fumitaka SAITO, Technical Official*Joint Appointment• Flexible Information
System Research Center
Director : Yôiti SUZUKI, Professor*
Yoshihito TOYAMA, Professor*
Tetsuo KINOSHITA, Professor*
Gen KITAGATA, Associate Professor
Kazuto SASAI, Assistant Professor
Toshiaki OSADA, Research Fellow

63

2009‐2010(e)表紙BC̲2009‐2010(e)表紙BC 平成 21/08/22 8:49 ページ 3▼▼

2009‐2010(J)表紙AD̲2009‐2010(J)表紙AD 平成 21/08/22 8:46 ページ 3

Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University 2009/2010

Research Institute of Electrical Communication
2‑1‑1 Katahira, Aoba‑ku, Sendai 980‑8577, JAPAN TEL（022）
217‑5420 FAX（022）
217‑5426
http://www.riec.tohoku.ac.jp/

Printed by TOHOKUDO INSATSU Co.Ltd.