RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and
Mathematical Sciences Program

RIKEN - LBNL Workshop on Quantum Information Science on September 3-6, 2024

On Sep. 3 (Tue) - 6 (Fri), RIKEN - LBNL Workshop on Quantum Information Science was held at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The workshop was co-hosted by RIKEN-iTHEMS and LBNL and sponsored by RIKEN Quantum, with 32 and 40 participants from Japan and USA, respectively. This was the second in-person workshop by RIKEN and LBNL on quantum information science since the first was held at LBNL in January 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together researchers worldwide to discuss and collaborate on the latest developments in quantum technologies and quantum computing including algorithms, hybrid quantum-classical computing, error mitigation, and applications in physics and chemistry. There were 36 talks and 4 poster presentations during the entire four days. In the afternoons of the second and third days, in addition to tours of LBNL's Advanced Quantum Testbed (AQT) and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) facilities, special sessions delved into discussions on several focus areas and provided networking opportunities for future collaborations.

2024-10-02

Farewell message from Eiji Inoue

Our colleague Eiji Inoue will move on to a new career as an assistant professor at Kyoto University as of Oct. 1, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Eiji Inoue: <i>I spent three and a half years in iTHEMS as an SPDR on math. I would like to thank the program director and assistants for their mindful support over these three and a half years. I also wish to thank iTHEMS members for discussion on many occasions. These years I spent in iTHEMS were invaluable for me. Among all, the best experience for me was that I could gradually get a feeling on "physics in the real world" not only mathematical structure of physics, from the choice of words physicists use in daily discussion. In these casual discussions, I could also try if my understanding of physics are correct. I also enjoyed playing quantum computers. I think it was impossible to experience without this tolerant environment of iTHEMS; indeed, it just started from a casual conversation with the director. It was the first time I experienced quantum phenomena, especially quantum entanglement, in the real world where I exist. This may sound a little strange, but I feel like I haven't had that feeling of interest in how the real world works in a long time. While I was going through these experiences like a newborn child, as a mathematician, I could finally achieve my original project on Perelman entropy in the last half year during my visits to Cambridge, Montreal and Aarhus. There are still many thigs to do, but this is certainly the foundation of this new theory. One regret is that I could not finish writing a paper on this result while enrolled at iTHEMS. I'll be an assistant professor at Kyoto University (Department of Math) from October. I welcome people from iTHEMS to come to Kyoto and discuss. I will also ask iTHEMS for help. See you again! </i>

2024-09-27

Farewell message from Kazuki Kannaka

Our colleague Kazuki Kannaka will move on to a new career as an assistant professor at Kanazawa University as of Oct. 1, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Kazuki Kannaka: <i>At iTHEMS, thanks to the support from Hatsuda-san, Tada-san, Tsuboi-sensei, and all the assistants, I was able to focus on my research in a wonderful environment. During this period, I made several discoveries that were interesting at least to me. Also, discussing with researchers from other fields at iTHEMS was exciting. I am especially grateful to Namba-san and Iritani-san for providing the opportunity for such discussions. I look forward to continuing our research exchanges. Thank you!</i>

2024-09-24

Energy Transmission Requires Information: Approaching the Physics of Boundary Interfaces

A research group, including Yuya Kusuki (Associate Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University / Visiting Scientist, iTHEMS), has demonstrated a clear inequality in 2-dimensional conformal quantum field theory. The inequality links the energy transmission rate, the information transmission rate, and an indicator of the size of the Hilbert space in quantum field theory (specifically, the growth rate of the number of states at high energy) as follows: (energy transmission rate) ≤ (information transmission rate) ≤ (indicator of the size of the Hilbert space). For more details, please refer to Kyushu University's website via the related links below.

2024-09-20

How should the isolation of Mpox patients be ended? - Development of a simulator to verify the timing of isolation termination

A research group led by Professor Shingo Iwami (Professor, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University / Visiting Scientist, iTHEMS), in collaboration with Dr. Fuminari Miura (Ehime University / Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)), has developed a new simulator (simulation software) to verify the timing for ending the isolation of Mpox (Clade II) patients. For further details, please visit the Nagoya University Research Information website via the relevant links.

2024-09-13

Farewell message from Keita Mikami

Our colleague Keita Mikami will move on to a new career as an assistant professor at University of Hyogo as of Oct. 1, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Keita Mikami: <i>My five and a half years at iTHEMS have been truly outstanding. The environment here has been exceptional, significantly enriching my research in many different ways. One of the key highlights has been the stimulating and insightful discussions with researchers from diverse fields. Furthermore, my experiences working on MACS, organizing math seminars, and coordinating other events such as SSP have been invaluable. My research visit to UCB was also an incredible experience. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the researchers and assistants at iTHEMS. I am especially grateful to the director, Hatsuda-san, for his unwavering support.As I move forward, I hope to continue interacting with the iTHEMS community, albeit in a new capacity. Once again, thank you for these five wonderful years.</i>

2024-09-10

RIKEN Research: More magic in twisted layers of graphene

Magnetic fields can engineer flat bands in twisted graphene layers to create a new playground for exotic physics, RIKEN physicists have shown. The exotic properties of graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice—are now well established. Electrons effectively move through graphene as if they have no mass. This is an exciting prospect for creating electronic devices with functionalities beyond those of silicon. But things get even weirder when two or more layers of graphene are combined. To read more, please visit the related link.

2024-09-10

RIKEN Research: The link between fuzzy images and quantum fields

Mathematical solutions to thorny quantum problems can be found more quickly by exploiting the correspondence between the statistical methods used in deep learning and techniques for implementing quantum simulations, a team led by a RIKEN researcher has shown. One of the most successful theories in modern physics, quantum field theory is physicists’ attempt to combine three theories—classical field physics, Einstein’s special relativity and quantum mechanics—into a single mathematical model. It has been successful in solving problems in particle physics and condensed-matter physics, but these calculations are computationally intensive and require a lot of computer power. To read more, please visit the related link.

2024-09-02

Farewell message from Takeru Yokota

Our colleague Takeru Yokota will move to RIKEN Quantum Computer Center (RQC) starting from September 1, 2024, and will then be posted to a University as a faculty member as of April 1, 2025. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Takeru Yokota: <i>I am grateful for having spent the past three and a half years in an environment where I could focus on research at iTHEMS. Engaging in discussions with researchers from various fields of mathematical sciences has been a valuable experience. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the director, Hatsuda-san, the staff, and the assistants who created such a wonderful environment, as well as to the members who engaged in these valuable discussions. I look forward to continuing my interactions with the members of iTHEMS in the future.</i>

2024-08-27

Decoding Protein Condensation - Predicting Condensation of Proteins from Amino Acid Sequences -

The research team of Kyosuke Adachi (Research Scientist, iTHEMS / Research Scientist, Nonequilibrium Physics of Living Matter RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN BDR) and Kyogo Kawaguchi (Team Leader, Nonequilibrium Physics of Living Matter RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN BDR / Associate Professor, Institute for Physics of Intelligence, The University of Tokyo) has proposed a theory that predicts the condensation of protein molecules and demixing of condensates based on amino acid sequences. This research is expected to contribute to elucidating the mechanisms for the formation of membraneless organelles in cells and, in the future, to develop into a theory that predicts the effect of mutations in proteins sequences on cellular functions. For more details, please refer to the related link.

2024-07-24

Interview with Physicist Yasunori Nomura - Part I

Interview with Ryo Namba, Physicist [Part 2]

Interview with Ryo Namba, Physicist [Part 1]

Interview with Ryosuke Iritani, Mathematical Biologist [Part 1]

Theoretical Physicist Tetsuo Hatsuda Interview Vol.2: About Research and Mathematics

Theoretical Physicist Tetsuo Hatsuda Interview Vol.1: About RIKEN iTHEMS

What about climate change in actuality?

Forming black holes from stars

Singularity Theorems

Resurgence: making sense out of non-convergent series

How can we use a quantum computer to study the ground state of the hydrogen molecule?

Applications and Extensions of the Nielsen-Ninomiya Theorem in Condensed Matter Physics

COVID-19: then, now, and into the future

Exploring Quantum Spacetime

Classical simulations of quantum computers

When a Cretan says all Cretans are liars

Physical and local observables in gravitational theory

Can you hear the shape of a drum?

Quantum many-body physics with cold atoms

complexity in non-unitary dynamics of photons

Odd couples of interdisciplinary research

Khovanov homology theory - an introduction to categorification by Dr. Taketo Sano on May 13, 2022

Fundamentals Fest, mini Pre-event on Science "Exploring and Bridging: The Potential of Basic Science"

In Search of Pc pentaquark - Simulate Hadron Interactions with FUGAKU

AAS Journal Author Series: Hirotaka Ito on 2021ApJ…918...59I

Will Useless Knowledge Change the Future? - What is the Black Hole Recorder?

RIKEN 2019 (in Japanese)