RIKEN Accel. Prog. Rep. 50 (2017)

Research Activities 1991–2016

Quantum Hadron Physics Laboratory
T. Hatsuda ∗1,∗2
The Quantum Hadron Physics (QHP) Laboratory 1)
in RIKEN Nishina Center was established on April 1,
2011 with Tetsuo Hatsuda (Professor, Univ. Tokyo, atthe time) as a concurrent Chief Scientist. On April 1,
2012, Hatsuda moved to RIKEN as a full-time Chief
Scientist. He is currently a Director of RIKEN iTHES 2)(interdisciplinary Theoretical Science Research Group,
FY2013–FY2017), and a Program Director of RIKEN
iTHEMS 3) (interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program, FY2016–present).
One of the most important goals of the QHP Laboratory is to attract young bright theorists to RIKEN
Nishina Center and create a good atmosphere for themto interact with each other and to produce original ideas.
This is exactly what Dr. Yoshio Nishina has provided toDr. S. Tomonaga, Dr. H. Yukawa, and others at RIKEN.
Here, we recapitulate an English translation of the famous saying by Nishina, “Researchers’ growth depends
on their environment, and a good environment depends
on the researchers.” To accomplish the above goal, ninecore members (including T. Hatsuda) from inside andoutside of RIKEN working on diverse topics in theoretical physics have been appointed, as listed below.

The scientiﬁc activities of the QHP Laboratory arehighly acclaimed in the community: 7 members received
10 awards (either domestic or international) as of March,2017. Moreover, 5 invited review articles by the QHPLaboratory members were published, and 5 highlighted
works have been released in press. Outreach activities are also taken seriously in the QHP Laboratory;
11 YouTube videos have been released to explain fascinating fundamental physics to the public. Owing to theinteractions with iTHES and iTHEMS, the activities ofthe QHP Laboratory became even broader, and collaborations among theoretical physicists, theoretical biologists, engineers, and mathematicians have started. We
hope that these collaborations would spur new breakthroughs in the coming 30 years.
QHP members & iTHES members

20

728

25 & 728 & 1122 & 13

16 & 1515

105∗22014PD

2015

studentstaīPD

studentstaīPD

studentstaī

PDstaī

student

2013

2016

QHP Laboratory total:
266 original papers & 279 internaƟonal talks as of Dec. 31, 2016

Senior Research Scientist

50

The QHP Laboratory has also accepted a number ofpost-doctoral researchers and graduate students fromJapan and overseas to create an active research environment. Figure 1 shows the number of QHP Laboratory
members in FY2011–FY2016. The QHD Laboratory has
theoreticians in particle physics, hadron physics, nuclear
physics, and atomic physics (as well as broader rangeof researchers from iTHES/iTHEMS) in a single lab.
This varied mix has generated fruitful mutual interactions among the members to venture into new directions.
Furthermore, this became a source of high productivityof the QHP Laboratory, as shown in Fig. 2.
∗12012

20112012

2013

2014

2015

talk

paper

talk

paper

talk

paper

talk

paper

talk

paper

paper

0
talk

Atomic Physics:
Dr. Pascal Naidon (2012–)

staī

100

PD

Nuclear Physics:
Dr. Haozhao Liang (2015–)
Research Scientist
Dr. Nguyen Dinh Dang (2016–) Nishina Center Researcher

2011

student

Fig. 1. Number of QHP Laboratory staﬀ, post-doctoral researchers, students, and iTHES members in FY2011–FY2016.

PDHadron Physics:
Dr. Tetsuo Hatsuda (2011–)
Chief Scientist
Dr. Takumi Doi (2011–)
Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Yoshimasa Hidaka (2012–) Senior Research Scientist

student

0staīParticle Physics:
Dr. Tsukasa Tada (2013–)
Deputy Chief Scientist
Dr. Hiroshi Suzuki (2011–2013) Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Makiko Nio (2011–)
Nishina Center Researcher

2016

Fig. 2. Original papers and international conference talks by
QHP members (as of Dec. 31, 2016).

References
1) QHP Laboratory in Nishina Center, http://ribf.
riken.jp/QHP/ .
2) iTHES Research Group, http://ithes.science-server.
com/ .
3) RIKEN iTHEMS Program, https://ithems.riken.
jp/ .

Chief Scientist of Quantum Hadron Physics Laboratory(2011–present)
Program Director of RIKEN iTHEMS (interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences) Program (2016–present)

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