Department of Physics

Department of Physics

Department of Physics

The Department of Physics at Osaka University offers aworld-class education to its undergraduate and graduate
students. We have about 50 faculty members, who teachphysics to 76 undergraduate students per year in the
Physics Department, and over 1000 students in otherschools of the university. Our award-winning faculty
members perform cutting edge research. As one of theleading universities in Japan, our mission is to serve thepeople of Japan and the world through education,
research, and outreach.
The Department of Physics was established in 1931
when Osaka University was founded. The tradition oforiginality in research was established by the firstpresident of Osaka University, Hantaro Nagaoka, aprominent physicist who proposed a planetary model foratoms before Rutherford’s splitting of the atom. Ourformer faculty include Hidetsugu Yagi, who invented theYagi antenna, and Seishi Kikuchi, who demonstrated
electron diffraction and also constructed the first
cyclotron in Japan. Hideki Yukawa created his meson
theory for nuclear forces when he was a lecturer at Osaka
University, and later became the first Japanese Nobel
laureate. Other prominent professors in recent years
include Takeo Nagamiya and Junjiro Kanamori, whoestablished the theory of magnetism, and Ryoyu
Uchiyama, who developed gauge theory.
Since then, our department has expanded to cover awide range of physics, including experimental andtheoretical elementary particle and nuclear physics,
condensed matter physics, theoretical quantum physics,
and interdisciplinary physics. In 2010, the “International
Physics Course (IPC)” was created to offer classes inEnglish to students from abroad.
The department also has cooperating groups in fivelaboratories in the university. Many faculty and students
in the department collaborate with other laboratories inJapan and abroad, such as KEK, J-PARC, RIKEN,
SPring-8, CERN, FNAL,TRIUMF, RAL, and PSI.
Graduate Program
The Department of Physics at Osaka University offers a
two-year graduate course in physics leading to a Masterof Science in Physics, and a three-year course in Physics
leading to a Ph.D. degree.
The M.S. course provides advanced study and training inresearch in physics. A total of 68 students are enrolledeach year.

The course includes lectures and relevant practicalwork. Each student joins a research group to pursue acourse of supervised research on an approved subject
in physics. A Master of Science in Physics is awarded
if a submitted thesis and its oral presentation pass thedepartment’s criteria.
For the Ph.D. course each student joins a researchgroup, and is assigned a research supervisor.
Independent original research is central to the Ph.D.
and successful graduates require a high degree of selfmotivation. The final examination involves thesubmission of a Ph.D. thesis followed by an oral
examination assessed by both internal and external
examiners.
Graduates from the M.S. course either advance to the
Ph.D. course or go to industry. Many graduates fromthe Ph.D. course become postdocs or assistantprofessors and continue their research. Graduates
going to industry are highly valued for theirunderstanding of physics, and their problem solving
abilities.
Home Page
http://www.phys.sci.osaka‐u.ac.jp/index‐en.html

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

Nanoscale Physics Group
Yasuhiro NIIMI (Professor), Nan JIANG (Assistant Professor)［Research topics］
1. Fabrication of nanometer-scale devices using van der
Waals superconductors and van der Waals ferromagnets
2. Studies of spin dynamics by means of spin transportmeasurements
3. Control of artificial phonons using surface acoustic wave
devicesNanometer-scale devices consisting of metals (including
superconductors) and semiconductors have been utilized todemonstrate quantum effects in fundamental science and toestablish quantum computing for future application. On theother hand, in spintronics originating from the field ofmagnetism, many important phenomena such as giant
magnetoresistance and spin Hall effects have been
discovered and used for application.
In the research group, we merge the above two research
fields, and aim to find novel phenomena and to elucidate themechanisms, by artificially combating nanometer-scale
metals, and/or superconductors with ferromagnets.

Hanasaki Group
Noriaki HANASAKI (Professor), Isao WATANABE (Visiting Professor),
Hideaki SAKAI (Associate Professor),
Hiroshi MURAKAWA (Assistant Professor)［Research Subjects］
1)
2)
3)

Novel magnetotransport phenomena such as giant
magnetoresistance
Dirac fermions and Weyl semimetals
Thermoelectric effect

The strongly correlated electron systems provide a lot ofinteresting magnetotransport phenomena such as thegiant magnetoresistance effect. For the realization of the
giant magnetoresistance effect, the correlation between
the spin and the charge degrees of the freedom isessential, since the spin configuration, which iscontrolled by the magnetic field,
determines the electron transfer. The phthalocyanine
moleculeshave the strong intramolecular interaction
between the conduction electrons and the local moments.
In this molecular conductors, we found the giant negative
magnetoresistance. The thermoelectric effect is also
investigated in the organic and inorganic conductors.
The Dirac/Weyl fermions in solid material haveattracted much attention. We
synthesize the new
Dirac/Weyl systems, and investigate the interplay
between the Dirac/Weyl systems, the local moments, andpolar structure.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Kudo Group
Kazutaka KUDO (Professor), Shigeki MIYASAKA (Associate Professor),
Masamichi NAKAJIMA (Assistant Professor)［Research Area］
1. Development of superconductors with high critical temperature
2. Exploration of exotic superconducting states
3. Development of new functional materials

Our group is equipped with a full range of facilities from the synthesis ofmaterials to the measurement of their physical properties. Materials aresynthesized in various types of electric furnaces. Magnetic, transport,
thermal, and optical properties are investigated using various
experimental apparatuses. The figures below show some of ourachievements in the development of superconducting materials using
coordination chemistry, making and breaking chemical bonds, andpolymorphism.

Superconductivity is a phenomenon associated with spontaneous
symmetry breaking. The knowledge has spread to many fields. For
example, the energy gap in the BCS theory of superconductivity has
an analogy with the mass of a particle. What is interesting is that
because superconductivity is based on a universal principle, itappears in a variety of materials, creating a diversity that reflects theproperties of those materials. This has provided a number ofopportunities for progress in condensed matter physics. Notable
examples are high-temperature superconductivity, anisotropic
superconductivity,
time-reversal
symmetry-breaking
superconductivity, and topological superconductivity, all of whichhave been recognized as central issues in modern condensed matterphysics. To open up new fields, we are developing new
superconducting materials by controlling the crystal structures using
the properties of chemical elements.

DepartmentofPhysics

Hagiwara Group
Masayuki HAGIWARA (Professor), Yasuo NARUMI (Associate Professor),
Takanori KIDA (Assistant Professor), Tetsuya TAKEUCHI (Adjunct Professor)［Research Area］
1) Studies on magnetic field-induced quantum phases andphase transitions
2) High magnetic field studies and quantum criticality ofstrongly correlated electron systems
3) High magnetic field studies of functional materials4) Development of experimental apparatus utilized undermultiplex extreme conditions
Magnetic field is one of the important physical parameters,e.g. pressure and temperature, and is a soft and precisely
controllable external parameter. It interacts directly spin
degrees of freedom and orbital motions of electrons thatcharacterize the nature of materials.
We are aiming at observing new phenomena in ultrahighmagnetic fields combined with other extreme conditions,such as very high pressure and extremely low temperatures,and enlightening their mechanism. In order to conduct the
researches, we are developing experimental apparatuses forinvestigating physical properties of e.g. high-Tc
superconductors and topological materials by utilizing

a huge capacitor bank system and a wide-bore pulse magnet asshown in the figures below. We have also developed electron spinresonance apparatuses with a very wide frequency-magnetic field
window to study spin dynamics of novel magnets like quantum
spin systems, multiferroics and frustrated magnets.

Huge capacitor bank system, and cut-view of a wide-bore pulse
magnetGraduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Matsuno Group
Jobu MATSUNO (Professor), Junichi SHIOGAI (Associate Professor),
Kohei UEDA (Assistant Professor)[Research Area]
1. Novel quantum matters realized in oxide thin films and interfaces
2. Oxide spintronics utilizing spin-orbit interaction
We are focusing on design, growth, and analysis of correlated oxideinterfaces showing a variety of outstanding properties. We control
symmetry, dimensionality, and topology of materials throughatomically flat interfaces mainly by pulsed-laser-deposition thin film
growth; this will open up a way to novel quantum matter. For
example, we can “smoothly” control dimensionality of correlatedoxides by forming superlattices; this enables us to thoroughly explore
quantum phase diagrams, leading to discovery of new phasetransitions. We also utilize symmetry; inversion symmetry is always
broken at interfaces, resulting in antisymmetric magnetic interaction.
This provides possible spintronic applications at well-defined
epitaxial oxide interfaces. Through these interfaces, we try tounderstand nature of novel quantum matters and to bring out theirfunctionalities.
An artificial interface structure consisting of three kindsof correlated oxides

DepartmentofPhysics

Toyoda Group
Michisato TOYODA (Professor), Yasuo KANEMATSU (Professor),
Yoichi OTSUKA (Associate Professor), Yosuke KAWAI (Assistant Professor)［Research Area］
1) Development of compact and light-weight high-performance mass
spectrometers and interdisciplinary research utilizing them2) Development of projection-type mass spectrometry imaging system(MS microscope)3) Development of advanced laser technology for mass spectrometry4) Development of ion optics simulation method
5) Development of extraction ionization methods for mass spectrometry
using picoliter charged liquid
The mass spectrometry is widely used in many fields, e.g., spacescience, biochemistry, physics, environment science and life science.
This group works in close collaboration with different fields andindustrial sectors to lead cross-sectoral research, with a multi-turn timeof-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer (MULTUM) as the core, in order toopen pathways to new science. The project works to develop original
and creative high-performance mass spectrometers, ionization methods,
detectors, and other systems for the next generation.

Multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer“MULTUM Linear plus” developed by our group.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Experimental Nuclear Physics Group
Takahiro KAWABATA(Professor), Mitsunori FUKUDA(Associate Professor),
Atsuko ODAHARA(Associate Professor), Sei YOSHIDA(Associate Professor),
Suguru SHIMIZU(Assistant Professor), Mototsugu MIHARA(Assistant Professor) ,Tatsuya FURUNO (Assistant Professor)[Research Area]
Considering all the matter in the universe as an assembly of elements,
the most fundamental unit of the matter is atom. The nature of the atom ischaracterized by its nucleus, and all the elements in the universe weresynthesized by nuclear reactions. The nuclear physics is, as it were, the field
to explore the origin of the matter in the universe. We aim to elucidate theorigin of the matter by experimental research into extremely rare phenomena
inside nuclei and structures of exotic nuclei such as hyper nuclei or unstable
nuclei far from stability.

6) Exotic nuclear structure through reaction cross sections and nuclear
electromagnetic moments
7) Hyperfine interactions in condensed matter by using techniques of β-ray
nuclear magnetic resonances and muon spin resonances

Main research projects
1) Search for cluster states in atomic nuclei and nucleosynthesis in theuniverse
2) Exotic structure in nuclei with high isospin and/or high spin3) Study of lepton universality violation
4) Neutrino-less double beta decay for investigation of the matter dominateduniverse5) Study of nuclei with strangeness degree of freedom - Investigation ofgeneralized hadron-nucleus interaction -DepartmentofPhysics

Aoki Group
Masaharu AOKI (Professor), Kazuki UENO (Associate Professor),
Akira SATO (Assistant Professor), Hisataka YOSHIDA (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor)［Research Area］
1) Studies of lepton flavor violation physics and its related subjects;
focusing on experiments searching for muon-to-electron conversion
processes in a muonic atom2) Development of new experimental techniques andinterdisciplinary studies with muon
The question “How the universe was created, and how it became
the one we live today” is fundamental as human beings. In order tosearch for the answer, it is inevitable that we must study reactions ofelementary particles in a high-energy state as theearly universe. Among a few research methods, a method that
focuses on rare processes occurring through quantum effects of newparticles and their interactions is unique. Especially, the recently
constructed and in-operation high-intensity proton accelerators suchas J-PARC have made it possible to produce vast amounts ofparticles that can be used for the rare-process studies, and opened a
new era that we can reach the physics at much higher energy scalethan that we can directly produce by high energy accelerators.

standard model of particle physics with novel experimental ideas.
COMET Phase-I utilizes a super-conducting solenoid beamline torealize high-intensity muon source. We are pushing forward with it to
discover the muon-electron conversion signal first in the world byachieving 3 × 10-15 of the sensitivity. We are also looking forward toreach the uncharted realm of the rare-decay study; a level 10-17 of thesensitivity at COMET Phase-II.
We are developing new experimental techniques based on the state-ofthe-art technologies in order to realize such advanced experiments. We
are also contributing to interdisciplinary studies of which thesetechnologies can be made practical use.

We believe that the charged lepton of the 2nd generation, muon, isthe most suitable to see the quantum effects, and are pushing theexperimental particle physics forward with rare-process studies ofmuons. Experiments searching for muon-electron conversion we areconducting at J-PARC aim to discover the phenomena beyond the

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

COMET Phase‐IDepartment of Physics

Nanjo Group
Hajime NANJO (Professor), Minoru HIROSE (Assistant Professor)[Research Area]
1) Search for new source of CP violation with rare K-meson decays
2) Study of the Higgs particle and search for new particles including
supersymmetric particles
Right after the Big Bang, the same number of particles and antiparticles
were produced, but they annihilated each other into photons as theuniverse cooled down. However, there is matter (such as stars) left in thisuniverse. This was caused by a small imbalance of O(10-9) between the
behaviors of particles and antiparticles; so called CP violation. Such CP
violation must have been caused by new physics beyond the standard
model. With a new high intensity proton accelerator at J-PARC, we are
studying a rare CP-violating KL decay to look for new physics beyond thestandard model.
In addition, right after the Big Bang, all the particles were massless.
However, they obtained mass due to the Higgs particle. Using the highest
energy proton-proton collider, located at CERN, we are studying the
Higgs particle. The same collider will allow us to produce undiscovered
particles beyond the Standard Model, such as supersymmetric particles,
dark-sector particles, and exotic Higgs.

J‐PARC KOTO Experiment

CERN ATLAS Experiment

Nuclear Theory Group
Masayuki ASAKAWA (Professor), Yukinao AKAMATSU (Assistant Professor)［Research Area］
1) Quark-hadron phase transition at finite temperature and density2) Theory of high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions
3) Theory of open quantum systems

Hadrons are particles that interact with strong force. Protons andneutrons that constitute nuclei are hadrons. So are Yukawa mesons.
These particles were considered as elementary particles, but it is now
known that they are composed of quarks and gluons, which are more
fundamental particles. Two types of hadrons have been known, mesons
and baryons. Mesons are made of two (anti)quarks and baryons are
made of three (anti)quarks. Recently, the possibility of other types ofhadrons has been considered. Isolated quarks or gluons cannot exist in
the world where we lie now, but it is believed that quarks and gluons
are deconfined and can move freely at high temperature, above
approximately 2 ×1012 K. Such high temperature once existed in early
universe. We are trying to understand such diversity in the world of thestrong interaction, played by quarks, gluons, and hadrons.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Particle Physics Theory Group 1[Kanemura Group]
Shinya KANEMURA (Professor),
Ryosuke SATO(Associate Professor), Kei YAGYU (Assistant Professor)［Research Areas］
1. Structure of vacuum in the early universe and physics of the
Higgs sector
2. Solving problems beyond the standard model
3. Particle phenomenology
4. Probing new physics models by using gravitational waves

Furthermore, we study testability of new physics models by the
future space based gravitational wave measurements such as LISA
and DECIGO.

[Introduction to the research interests]
We are interested in solving problems in current particle physics, andwe explore new physics models beyond the standard model which can
describe phenomena between the electroweak scale and the Planck scale.
By the theoretical speculation with the data from various experiments,
we try to understand the Universe in deeper levels. According to thequantum field theory, we try to built new models which can explain
various unsolved problems in particle physics such as tiny neutrino
mass, dark matter, baryon asymmetry of the Universe and cosmic
inflation, and we perform phenomenological studies to test these models
using various high energy experiments at the LHC, Super KEKB, theInternational Linear Collider, etc. Starting from the property of the
Higgs boson which was discovered in 2012, we explore the mechanismof electroweak symmetry breaking and new physics behind.

DepartmentofPhysics

Particle Physics Theory Group 2[Onogi Group]
Tetsuya ONOGI (Professor),
Minoru TANAKA (Assistant Professor), Hidenori FUKAYA (Assistant Professor)［Research Areas］
1) Lattice QCD and its application to particle physics and field
theory2) Origin of flavor mixing and CP violation
3) Neutrino Physics using atoms and molecules[Research Contents]
1. Nonperturbative study of field theories from lattice – formalism oflattice gauge theories and its applications to numerical computations.
Main topics are : chiral symmetry breaking in vacuum and its
restoration at finite temperature. We are also interested in Diracfermions or topological materials in condensed matter physics.
2. CP violation in B, D, K mesons. High precision lattice computationsof the form factors of B-, D-, K- meson decays to give the standard
model predictions and new physics effects is studied in order toexplore the new physics from experiments. Phenomenologicalstudies to predict new physics effects in various experimental
processes are also the main targets of our study.
3. Neutrino spectroscopy using atoms and molecules as probes to search
for the fundamental nature of neutrinos

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Particle Physics Theory Group 3[Nishioka Group]
Tatsuma NISHIOKA(Professor),
Satoshi YAMAGUCHI (Associate Professor), Norihiro IIZUKA (Assistant Professor)［Research Interests］
1) Superstring theory2) Quantum field theory, gauge theory and supersymmetric theory3) Quantum gravity
4) Mathematical physics
5) Early universe[Introduction to the research interests]
Quantum field theory is the most advanced formulation of physics wehave ever reached. Two basic principles of modern physics, relativity
and quantum theory, are incorporated in it. The gravity theory ofEinstein however is not incorporated in this framework. The mostpromising candidate is the superstring theory. We are pursuingfundamental problems of particle physics by examining various
possibilities of the quantum field theory and the superstring theory.
Furthermore, we apply mathematical tools developed in string theory
and quantum field theories to various physical phenomena, which would
connect different subjects of science via mathematical physics.

DepartmentofPhysics

Kuroki Group
Kazuhiko KUROKI (Professor), Keith SLEVIN (Associate Professor),
Masayuki OCHI (Associate Professor) , Tatsuya KANEKO (Assistant Professor)

1) Electron correlation effects, unconventional superconductivity2) Nonequilibrium, nonlinear effects in correlated systems3) Optimization of thermoelectric effects
4) New many-body and/or first principles methods for studying
strongly correlated electron systems5) Quantum transport phenomena in disordered systems, Anderson
localization

superconductivity and magnetism, but correctly understanding
the correlation effect is in general difficult and therefore achallenging issue. In addition to the above, the presence of
impurities, defects and randomness in solids can also lead tointeresting phenomena such as the Anderson localization. We
investigate these issues numerically and/or analytically, andare also interested in developing new theoretical methods toanalyze these problems.

We theoretically study condensed matter physics, and are particularlyinterested in the properties of electrons in solids.
In quantum mechanics, electrons behave as waves, and the relation
between the wave number and the frequency is described by theelectronic band structure of the material, which strongly governs theproperties of the material.
Therefore, it is important to correctly understand the band structurefrom a microscopic viewpoint. In solids, a huge number of electronsinteract with one another, and this repulsive interaction induces
correlation effects.
The cooperation between the band structure and the electron
correlation effects can give rise to various phenomena such as

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

Ogawa Group
Members

Tetsuo OGAWA (Professor), Takuma OHASHI (Assistant Professor)[Research Area]
1.

Macroscopic quantum theory of quantum condensation in
nonequilibrium composite systems
2.
Thermodynamics of nonequilibrium steady states
3.
Quantum dynamics including observation process
4.
Quantum simulations in nonequilibrium open-systems
5.
Linear and nonlinear optical responses in quantum many-bodymetallic systems
6.
Quantum condensation and laser theory in Electron-hole-photon
systems
7.
Quantum relaxation dynamics, Auger process and gas-liquid phaseseparation in electron-hole systems
8.
Quantum mechanics of the electron-hole and exciton transportation
9.
Nonequilibrium dynamics in the photo-induced phase transition
10. Theory of Nonequilibrium optical responses and laser in theultrastrong coupling regimes of light-matter interaction
11. Quantum physics and nonlinear dynamics under extremely highdriving field

We theoretically investigate quantum many-body systems bymeans of analytical and numerical calculations. In particular, ouraim is to understand phenomena related to nonlinear dynamical
responses in optically excited states of condensed matters and their
spatiotemporal quantum dynamics, from both microscopic andphenomenological viewpoints. Condensed-matter theories to
explain "nonlinear/nonequilibrium properties" and "spatiotemporal
evolutions" in quantum many-body systems are main targets. In
other words, we study responses of coupled systems, where thefermionic (electronic) fields and the bosonic (photonic, phononic,
excitonic, biexcitonic) fields are mutually interacting with eachother.

Koshino Group
Mikito KOSHINO (Professor), Takuto KAWAKAMI (Assistant Professor)[Research Area]
Condensed matter theory: the quantum electronic properties in thenovel condensed matter systems, including two-dimensional materials
and topological materials.
Two-dimensional (2D) materials are atomically-thin crystals less than
1 nm thick. For example, graphene, one of the first 2D materials evercreated in history, is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in ahoneycomb lattice. Interestingly, many of 2D materials often exhibit
completely different physical properties compared to the 3D version’s.
For example, an electron in single-layer graphene behaves like amassless Dirac electron in the relativistic quantum theory, but it neverappears in the 3D graphite. Likewise, we can make a light-emitting
semiconductor by thinning some kind of non-light-emitting 3D
semiconductor down to monolayer. Also a single layer of somesuperconducting material gets the critical temperature 10 times higher
than that of 3D bulk. It is also possible to make a hybrid material justby stacking different 2D materials, and realize a bizarre nature neverfound in the original materials. We are searching for the novel andexotic properties by theoretically studying various kind of physicalproperties in these novel materials.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Fundamental Nuclear Physics Group(Research Center for Nuclear Physics・Toyonaka Laboratory)
Atsushi TAMII (Professor), Shinsuke OTA (Associate Professor),
Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI (Associate Professor)[Research Area]
1) Nuclear electric polarizability and equation of state of neutronstar by measuring virtual photon scattering induced by proton
scattering
2) Damping and energy dissipation mechanism of nuclear giant
resonances by measuring gamma decays3) Extragalactic propagation of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays
through photo-nuclear reactions (PANDORA project)
4) Evidence of nuclear reactions in laser plasma created by highintensity laser beam irradiated on solid target
5) Properties of the neutron star matter
6) 3D neutron imaging
We study new nuclear phenomena by measuring the properties of
the nuclear matter consisting of protons and neutrons for solving
problems in the beginning of the universe and its evolution. In
particular, we focus on the photo-nuclear reactions for extracting
the electric dipole polarizability of nuclei, new excitation modes,
the equation of state of a neutron star, Big Bang nucleosynthesis
and photo-disintegration of ultra-high-energy cosmic-rays during
the extragalactic propagation.
We employ the high-resolution magnetic spectrometer, Grand
Raiden, and a proton beam from the accelerators at the ResearchCenter for Nuclear Physics. We measure virtual photon excitation
by a proton beam as well as

DepartmentofPhysics

gamma radiation with gamma detectors in collaboration withworld-wide groups from e.g. Germany or Italy. We also develop
charged particle detectors, photon detectors, electronics and dataacquisition systems. Recently we started a new project to measure
gamma-radiation from laser plasma induced by high-power laser
irradiation on solid target.
We started a new project on studying the properties of theneutron star matter by high-resolution measurement employing amagnetic spectrometer. Three dimensional imaging technique by
neutron detection employing a time projection chamber will also
be developed.

AnothergalaxyUltra high energy
cosmic rays

UHECR
nucleus

CMB excites
photon GDR

Earthphotodisintegration

Shock front

production

propagation

observation

Quark Nuclear Physics theory Group(Research Center for Nuclear Physics)

Atsushi HOSAKA (Professor), Yoichi IKEDA (Professor),
Kazuyuki OGATA (Specially Appointed Professor), Noriyoshi ISHII (Associate Professor),
Kenichi YOSHIDA (Associate Professor), Hideko NAGAHIRO (Specially Appointed Associate Professor),
Kenji SASAKI (Specially Appointed Associate Professor), Toru SATO (Guest Professor),
Yutaka Hosotani (Guest Professor), Takayuki MYO (Guest Professor)[Research Subjects]
Our study covers theoretical hadron and nuclear physics:
1) Structure of hadrons (protons and neutrons) from quarks
and gluons2) Lattice QCD study for hadron structure and interactions
3) Structure and dynamics of nuclear many-body systems

Our aim is to understand the diverse phenomena of strong
interactions from quarks, baryons and nuclei to astrophysics
phenomena. Quarks are confined and the vacuum breaks chiralsymmetry, but we do not know how quarks form nucleons.
Yukawa's interaction by the pion binds the nucleus, but we stillcannot solve fully the nuclear-many-body problems. It is rather
recent that we can describe nuclear reactions microscopically forthe study of history of the universe. We are approaching these
problems by using various methods of theoretical physics ofquantum mechanics, relativity and field theory. Our method alsouses the world top supercomputer Fugaku, and other major
computers including the one of Osaka University. In performing
our research, we discuss and collaborate with many physicists
from the world. We also discuss with experimentalists who are
working at the RCNP cyclotron, SPring-8, KEK, RIKEN and JPARC.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

Department of Physics

DepartmentofPhysics

Particle and Nuclear Reactions(Research Center for Nuclear Physics)

Nori AOI (Professor), Takatsugu ISHIKAWA (Professor), Atsushi TAMII (Professor), Takashi NAKANO(Professor), Hiroyuki NOUMI (Professor), Masaru YOSOI (Specially Appointed Professor),
Masako IWASAKI (Guest Professor), Shuhei AJIMURA (Associate Professor),
Eiji IDEGUCHI (Associate Professor),Saori UMEHARA (Associate Professor), Shinsuke OTA(Associate Professor), Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI (Associate Professor), Tatsushi SHIMA (Associate Professor),
Tomoaki HOTTA (Associate Professor), Sun Young RYU (Associate Professor), Hideki KOHRI(Specially Appointed Associate Professor), Mizuki SUMIHAMA (Specially Appointed Associate Professor),
Maki KUROSAWA (Specially Appointed Associate Professor), Masato TAMURA(Specially Appointed Associate Professor), Kotaro SHIROTORI (Assistant Professor), Yorihito SUGAYA(Assistant Professor), Tomokazu SUZUKI (Assistant Professor), Hiroaki TOGAWA (Assistant Professor),
Ken SUZUKI (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor), Dai TOMONO (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor),
Takashi HIGUCHI (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor)［Research Subjects]
1. nucleon many-body system "nuclei" - elucidating the mystery of
nucleosynthesis
2. quark many-body system "hadrons" - elucidating the mystery of quark
confinement
3. violation of particle number conservation - elucidating the mystery of
non-observed antimatter in the universe
The universe is full of matter. What is the components of matter? What is
the origin and evolution of matter? To answer these simple but very
difficult questions, the Particle and Nuclear Reactions Group investigatesvarious phenomena in the microscopic world smaller than the atom.
We tried to break down into components of matter. The atom was
proposed in the early 19th century as the smallest substance that could not
be further divided. Currently it is known that we have more microscopic
world than the atom. At the center of an atom, we have a small and dense
region, atomic nucleus, which consists of nucleons (protons and neutrons).
A nucleon is also made up of three quarks. Quarks and leptons are
considered as the elementary particles, each of which is not composed ofother particles. While leptons such as electrons and neutrinos can beisolated, quarks must clump together to form hadrons such as nucleons.
The universe is believed to have begun about 13.8 billion years ago in the
Big Bang. Quarks and leptons were produced at extremely hightemperatures and high densities. Eventually, quarks gathered to form
hadrons, which further gathered to form various types of atomic nuclei.
Using an accelerator to reproduce the conditions of the early universe, weinvestigate the structure of nuclei and hadrons to solve the mystery of theorigin and evolution of the universe. We also conduct research programs
without using an accelerator by looking at special reaction processes.
Mystery of nucleosynthesis
Protons and neutrons created in the Big Bang come together to synthesize
light nuclear elements such as helium and lithium. As these elements drift

High momentum-resolution magnetic
spectrometer, Grand Raiden.

through space, they eventually form dense portions, or stars. The density
and temperature within the star increase and nuclear reactions begin tooccur. In the evolution of stars, various nuclear reactions lead to the
nucleosynthesis processes, resulting in the formation of the elements thatmake up the matter around us. At the Ring Cyclotron facility in the
Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), we investigate various
properties of nuclei (hardness, shape, etc) using a high-resolution
spectrometer, Grand Raiden, and other equipment to get a closer look at
nucleosynthesis.
Mystery of quark confinement
Well established hadrons are classified into two groups: baryons,consisting of three quarks, and mesons, consisting of a quark and an
antiquark. Are there any other hadrons? The mass of a hadron is muchlarger than the sum of the masses of quarks in the hadron. What is thereason? To answer these questions, we try to elucidate the mystery ofquark confinement by producing various hadrons in various conditions at
the Laser-Electron Photon Facility, LEPS2, in SPring-8, and at the
Hadron Experimental Facility in J-PARC.
Mystery of non-observed antimatter in the universe
In the Big Bang, pair production took place between elementary particles
and their antiparticles. A particle and its antiparticle may annihilate. From
this, one would expect the difference between the total number ofparticles and that of antiparticles to be conserved. However, there seems
to be no antimatter made of antiparticles anywhere in the current universe.
We search for neutrinoless double beta decays using the CANDLES
system at the Kamioka Underground Research Laboratory. The
corresponding events indicate particle-antiparticle conversion, leading to
the mystery of non-observed antimatter in the universe.
RCNP has more than 60 experimental researchers and graduate students
in total and promotes nuclear/hadron physics experimentally incooperation with researchers and students in other universities.

Solenoidal magnetic spectrometer at LEPS2,
and expected mass spectrum for charmed
baryons at J-PARC.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024

https://www.rcnp.osaka-u.ac.jp

CANDLES system for detecting double
beta decaysDepartment of Physics

Accelerator Physics Group(Research Center for Nuclear Physics)

Mitsuhiro FUKUDA (Professor), Tetsuhiko YORITA (Associate Professor),
Hiroki KANDA(Associate Professor), Tatsuhiko SATO(Specially Appointed Professor),Paul SCHAFER(Specially Appointed Professor)[Research Area]
1)
2)
3)
4)

Upgrading of the ring and AVF cyclotrons to provide ultra highquality beams for precision nuclear physics experiments.
Development of ion sources and beam irradiation systems forproviding high-brightness and highly-intense ion beams.
R&D of a future high energy particle accelerator.
R&D of next-generation compact accelerators and their application
technologies for the targeted alpha-particle cancer therapy and softerror evaluation tests of semiconductor devices.

The RCNP cyclotron facility, consisting of a K400 ring cyclotron anda K140 AVF cyclotron, plays an important role in nuclear physics
using intermediate-energy nuclear beams. We carry on research inaccelerator and beam physics for upgrading the high-performance
cyclotrons and ion sources to provide ultra high-quality beams for
precision nuclear physics experiments. The R&D of a new particle
accelerator to produce ultra-precise GeV beam is in progress forpioneering research fields in particle and nuclear physics. The R&D
for applications of state-art accelerator technologies to medical,
biological, materials science and industry is underway; for example,
development of a high-temperature superconducting cyclotron for
production of radio-isotopes and neutrons.

DepartmentofPhysics

RCNP Ring Cyclotron

Oiwa Group(SANKEN)

Akira OIWA (Professor), Takafumi FUJITA (Assistant Professor)[Research Areas]1) Spin-related quantum transport in semiconductor low-dimensional
systems2) Quantum interface between single photon and single spin and its
application to quantum information processing3) Manipulation and transfer of spins in 1- and 2-dimensional
quantum arrays.
4) Research of superconductor/semiconductor quantum structure
junctions
Quantum system electronics group studies novel optical, electronic,
and spin devices that support the highly-sophisticated informationsociety in the 21st century. Based on semiconductor devices, ourresearch fields are quantum transport and its application to quantum
information processing using the quantum mechanical nature ofelectron spins and photons. We study the characterization of highquality materials and perform precise quantum transportmeasurements. Aim of our research is the realization of novel
phenomena emerging in quantum nano-structures that can control thephoton, electron and spin degrees of freedom. For realization of novel
quantum devices, creation of new functional materials and advanced
physical measurements to detect and manipulate spins areindispensable.

Fully utilizing highly functional nano and quantum structures andhybrid structures with different materials, and nano-scale microfabrications we aim to developing fundamental technologies of
future quantum information processing.

Laboratory for research and development of quantum interface.

Graduate School of Science
2023‐2024