RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) | iTHEMS

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Exploring Quantum Gravity Theories and Contributing to the Future - Yasunori Nomura

Professor Yasunori Nomura, a theoretical physicist at the University of California, Berkeley, has been staying at RIKEN iTHEMS for about two months each summer since last year, conducting research. Despite his busy schedule, Nomura is also actively engaged in outreach activities. We spoke with him about his life journey and thoughts on his research activities. Please see the full article via the related link.

2024-12-04
Expanding New Medical Possibilities From Microbial Research - Daiki Kumakura

Daiki Kumakura, is a Ph.D. student at the Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University. He is also a Junior Research Associate (JRA) at RIKEN iTHEMS, where he conducts his research. We asked him about the advantages of conducting research at iTHEMS as a student and his aspirations for the future. Please see the full article via the related link.

2024-12-04
Farewell message from Shingo Gibo

Our colleague Shingo Gibo will move on to a new career as senior researcher at Institute for Basic Science (IBS), South Korea as of December 1, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Shingo Gibo: <i>I joined iTHEMS in September 2018 and spent six years as a postdoctoral researcher at iTHEMS. During this time, I have theoretically studied biological oscillations with Kurosawa-san. Additionally, I collaborated on interdisciplinary research on waveforms in circadian clocks with physicists, Hatsuda-san and Kunihiro-san. I would like to thank all the members for the valuable discussions and support. I have learned a lot and truly enjoyed my time at iTHEMS. From December, I will be moving to Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea as a senior researcher. Thank you for the great six years and see you again!</i>

2024-11-26
To Continue Being a Researcher - Misako Tatsuuma

What processes lead to the formation of planets? — Research Scientist Misako Tatsuuma aims to theoretically answer this question. Describing herself as "indecisive at times but fundamentally a perfectionist," Tatsuuma adds, "I consider strategies carefully before acting." This approach applies not only to her research but also to her private life. What are these strategies? Please see the full article via the related link.

2024-11-18
Connecting People Through Science - Tomoya Nagai

When we think of mathematics, the image of a large blackboard covered with various equations often comes to mind. Spirited conversations in front of such blackboards frequently appear in videos and photos capturing the research atmosphere of the Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS). How are these lively discussion spaces created? We spoke with Tomoya Nagai, the Coordinator and Director of the Program Director's Office, whose work involves creating a conducive research environment. Please see the full article via the related link.

2024-11-18
Toward Developing Unifying Theories of Biology, Mathematics, and Society - Ryosuke Iritani

Living organisms are immensely complex. Their complexity renders it challenging to understand organisms’ behaviors and evolutionary processes. Despite advances in genomic analysis starting to reveal more biological details, many mysteries remain unsolved. Mathematical biology aims to unravel these mysteries using mathematics. We spoke with Senior Researcher Ryosuke Iritani, who is conducting research in this field, about why he chose this field and found it so fascinating. Please see the full article via the related link.

2024-11-18
Farewell message from Yaokun Lei

Our colleague Yaokun Lei will move on to a new career as associate research fellow at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, China as of November. 11, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Yaokun Lei: <i>I joined iTHEMS last August. Although it’s a short time, it has been a truly enriching experience to be a part of iTHEMS. The support and collaborative spirit here have been invaluable, and I am especially grateful for the guidance and help from Hatsuda-san and Sugita-san, whose encouragement has greatly impacted this journey. I am thankful for the friendships and knowledge shared, and as I step forward, I carry with me not only the insights from my research but also the inspiration from our exchanges. I hope our paths cross again in future collaborations. Thank you all for everything, and wishing you continued success and discoveries.</i>

2024-11-12
New Perspectives from the Intersection of Mathematics and Physics - Yuto Moriwaki

When people think of research in quantum field theory, most imagine physicists. However, Special Postdoctoral Researcher Yuto Moriwaki is a mathematician. In this interview, we asked Moriwaki about the allure and challenges of working across the fields of mathematics and physics. Please see the full article via the related link.

2024-10-23
Discovery of a Sustained Magnetic Flow in Ultracold Atomic Gases

An international research group, including Yuta Sekino (Postdoctoral Researcher, iTHEMS / Postdoctoral Researcher, Nonequilibrium Quantum Statistical Mechanics RIKEN Hakubi Research Team) has discovered a mechanism that generates a long-lasting magnetic flow using ultracold atomic gases. This research result is expected to contribute to the realization of quantum simulators, which are essential for the development of highly efficient next-generation magnetic memory. For further details, please refer to the related link.

2024-10-22
Creation of the Quantum Universe and Precise Calculation of the Wave Function of the Universe

In modern cosmology, the idea that the universe was created from nothing through quantum effects has been a topic of active research. However, a long-standing debate has persisted regarding which of two prominent hypotheses—the no-boundary proposal or the tunneling proposal—is correct. A research team, including Hiroki Matsui (Postdoctoral fellow, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics), Kazumasa Okabayashi (Postdoctoral fellow, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics), Masazumi Honda (Senior Research Scientist, RIKEN), and Takahiro Terada (Research Assistant Professor, Nagoya University), has made significant progress in this debate by calculating the wave function of the universe from first principles, without the need for arbitrary assumptions about either proposal. Previous analyses left mathematical ambiguities unresolved, but this team eliminated those ambiguities using a method called resurgence theory. Their calculations rigorously demonstrated, under certain assumptions, that the wave function of the universe aligns with predictions from the tunneling proposal, not the no-boundary proposal. This result is a giant step forward in resolving the longstanding debate between these two hypotheses. For more details, please refer to the Kyoto University press release via the related links.

2024-10-17

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Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) is an international research program at RIKEN. It facilitates close collaborations among researchers from different disciplines in theoretical, mathematical and computational sciences. The ultimate goal of iTHEMS is to unravel the mystery of the Universe, matter, and life, as well as to solve key problems in modern society through interdisciplinary approaches.

Photo of Tetsuo Hatsuda

Program Director: Tetsuo Hatsuda

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