Workshop

Entanglements & Applications

November 18 (Mon) 9:30 - 15:00, 2024

Myfanwy Evans (Professor, Institute of Mathematics, University of Potsdam, Germany)
Stephen Hyde (Emeritus Professor, Materials Physics, Australian National University, Australia)
Toky Andriamanalina (Ph.D. Student, Institute of Mathematics, University of Potsdam, Germany)

9:30-10:30: Toky Andriamanalina Title: Untangling 3-periodic entanglements of filaments and nets Abstract: Entanglements of curves and nets can used to describe various biological and chemical structures, such as coordination polymers, liquid crystals, or DNA origami crystals. We recently developed new diagrammatic descriptions of 3-periodic entanglements. These new diagrams are drawn out of a projection along one axis of a unit cell of a 3-periodic structure. By using these diagrams, we define the notion of untangling number for 3-periodic structures, which is a measure of complexity of the entanglement. Thanks to this, it is now possible to characterise the least tangled structures that we call ground states, and in particular we show that the rod packings are the generic ground states of entanglements of curves. 10:30-11:00: coffee break 11:00 - 12:00: Stephen Hyde Title: Tangles... and untangles Abstract: Knots, braids, links, self-entangled nets, multiple catenated infinite nets... are examples of what we call, simply, “tangles”. They are relevant to molecular-scale (bio)materials, from duplexed ssRNA to metal-organic frameworks. We are interested in understanding: 1.Which tangles are “simple”? 2.How tangled is a tangle!? Our tangle toolkit is a simple one: we assemble helices into networks, allowing a broad spectrum of tangles to be built, from knots to tangled nets. Interesting “simple” tangles are entanglements of the edges of Platonic polyhedra [1] and entangled 2-periodic nets [2]. A proposed answer to point 2. above will be discussed. if there is time. The ideas are at present largely unpublished, and being working into a book to be published, we hope, in late 2025 [3]. 13:00 - 14:00: Myfanwy Evans Title: Can solvents tie knots? Helical folds of biopolymers in liquid environments. Abstract: Using a simulation technique based on the morphometric approach to solvation, we performed computer experiments which fold a short open flexible tube, modelling a biopolymer in aqueous environments, according to the interaction of the tube with the solvent alone. We find an array of helical geometries that self-assemble depending on the solvent conditions, including symmetric double helices where the strand folds back on itself and overhand knot motifs. Interestingly these shapes—in all their variety—are energetically favoured over the optimal helix. By differentiating the role of solvation in self–assembly our study helps illuminate the energetic background scenery in which all soluble biomolecules live. This event is organized with the Interdisciplinary Math Study Group.

Venue: Seminar Room #359

Event Official Language: English

iTHEMS Science Outreach Workshop 2024

November 15 (Fri) - 17 (Sun) 2024

This year's meeting on "Outreach of RIKEN iTHEMS 2024@Sendai&Zoom" will be held from FRI November 15 to SUN November 17, as a face-to-face meeting at TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity of Tohoku Forum for Creativity in cooperation with iTHEMS SUURI-COOL (Sendai) using ZOOM for the necessary part as well.

Venue: TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity, Katahira Campus, Tohoku University (Main Venue) / via Zoom

Event Official Language: Japanese

Knitting Day

November 1 (Fri) 10:00 - 16:00, 2024

Tomohiko Sano (Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University)
Samuel Poincloux (Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Mathematics, College of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University)
Taiki Goto (Master's Student, Keio University)
Daisuke S. Shimamoto (Master's Student, The University of Tokyo)
Kotone Tajiri (Master's Student, Keio University)
Sonia Mahmoudi (Assistant Professor, Mathematical Science Group, Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University)

The 'Knitting Day' event is a one-day gathering that brings together students and researchers from diverse fields to explore the fascinating connections between the topology and mechanics of knitting. It aims to foster interdisciplinary discussions on how knitting techniques can be understood through mathematical, physical, and engineering lenses and their potential applications in industry. This event is organized with the Interdisciplinary Math Study Group. Schedule: 10:00 – 10:30: Welcome coffee 10:30 – 11:00: Samuel Poincloux 11:10 – 11:30: Kotone Tajiri 11:30 – 12:00: Discussion 12:00 – 13:00: Lunch 13:00 – 13:30: Daisuke Shimamoto 13:40 – 14:00: Taiki Goto 14:00 – 14:30: Discussion 14:30 – 15:10: Sonia Mahmoudi 15:10 – 16:00: Discussion & Coffee Break 16:00-18:00: Internal Discussion From 18:00: Dinner Titles: Taiki Goto: Twist deformation in trefoil knot Sonia Mahmoudi: A new topological model of knitting Samuel Poincloux: Knit mechanics and frictional troubles Daisuke Shimamoto: TBA Kotone Tajiri: Curling morphology of knitted fabrics: structure and mechanics

Venue: #345-347, 3F, Main Research Building

Event Official Language: English

RIKEN Quantum Workshop on “Quantum-Like Modeling” in Cognitive & Social Sciences

October 11 (Fri) 14:00 - 19:00, 2024

Recently, there has been a growing trend to consider cognitive, and social phenomena as Open Quantum Systems, and to mathematically define the fundamental principles behind them through so-called “Quantum-Like Modeling”. It has been extremely difficult to systematically explain complexities of such phenomena within humans’ cognitive traits based on classical “rational” reasoning. Quantum-Like Modeling suggests that using quantum probability calculus and its applications could be useful to rationalize such phenomena and expand previous understandings, obtained through simple linear algebra, by applying quantum formalizations. Just as physicists explored a new branch of mathematics, the theory of operators in complex Hilbert space, to describe the quantum phenomena in an effective way, considerations here will be built on the methodology and mathematical apparatus of quantum theory and directed to applications outside of physics, namely to, cognition, psychology, decision-making, economics, finances, as well as the social and political sciences. Programme 14:00~14:10 Atsushi Iriki: Introduction. Potential of quantum computing for humanities 14:10~15:10 Andrei Khrennikov: Tutorial. Ubiquitous Quantum: from genetics and biological evolution to cognition, psychology, decision making, and social science 15:10~15:40 Masanao Ozawa: Quantum Instrument -- Measurement to cognition with QC-simulation Break 16:00~16:30 Haruki Emori: Applications of quantum computers to cognitive sciences based on Quantum Instrument 16:30~17:00 Miho Fuyama: Subjective Experiences and Superposition State in Narrative Reading 17:00~17:30 General Discussion 18:00~19:00 Networking Mixer (RIKEN canteen #1) Registration Deadline September 26 (Thur), 2024 (for those attending both the workshop and networking mixer (banquet, free of charge)) October 4 (Fri), 2024 (for those attending only the workshop)

Venue: Seminar Room #359

Event Official Language: English

RIKEN - LBNL Workshop on Quantum Information Science

September 3 (Tue) - 6 (Fri) 2024

This international workshop will bring together researchers worldwide to discuss and collaborate on the latest developments in quantum technologies and quantum computing. Other focus areas will be algorithms, hybrid classical - quantum computing, error mitigation, and applications in physics and chemistry. With an emphasis to galvanize the participants into future collaborations, in addition to presentations on recent trends, the workshop will dedicate time in the afternoons for facilitated brainstorming and planning sessions.

Venue: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California)

Event Official Language: English

NCTS-iTHEMS Joint Workshop on Matters to Spacetime: Symmetries and Geometry

August 26 (Mon) - 29 (Thu) 2024

The National Center for Theoretical Sciences (NCTS) and the Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) at RIKEN have long maintained a collaborative relationship, even before the Memorandum of Understanding was signed in December, 2022. This partnership has successfully facilitated joint activities in high energy physics over recent years. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, we are excited to announce the inaugural joint workshops focusing on condensed matter physics and (quantum) gravity. These workshops are designed to foster international collaborations and stimulate interdisciplinary research. We are pleased to invite you to the 2024 NCTS-iTHEMS Workshop on Matters to Spacetime: Symmetries and Geometry, to be held from August 26 (Monday) to August 29 (Thursday), at the National Center for Theoretical Sciences, located on the campus of National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taipei, Taiwan. This workshop will feature presentations on the latest research findings, foster discussions to spark new ideas, and provide opportunities for initiating collaborative projects. While we strongly encourage in-person attendance to maximize engagement and interaction, an online platform will also be available to accommodate participants who are unable to attend physically.

Venue: NCTS Physics Lecture Hall, 4th Floor, Cosmology Hall, National Taiwan University

Event Official Language: English

Advances in Fluctuating Hydrodynamics: Bridging the Micro and Macro Scales

June 17 (Mon) - 28 (Fri) 2024

Abhishek Dhar (Professor, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, India)
Luca Delacrétaz (Assistant Professor, The University of Chicago, USA)
Tomohiro Tanogami (Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Space Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University)
Taiki Haga (Assistant Professor, Division of Physics and Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University)
Yukinao Akamatsu (Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University)
Keisuke Fujii (JSPS Research Fellow PD, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo)
Harukuni Ikeda (Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University)
Yuki Minami (Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Gifu University)
Hiroyoshi Nakano (Assistant Professor, The Institute for Solid State Physics (ISSP), The University of Tokyo)
Yusuke Nishida (Professor, Department of Physics, Tokyo Institute of Technology)
Makiko Sasada (Professor, Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Tokyo)

Establishing universal laws in far-from-equilibrium physical systems is one of the outstanding unresolved problems in modern physics. While we have not reached a complete theory applicable to any nonequilibrium system, hydrodynamics provides a promising theoretical tool, which captures universal macroscopic behaviors of nonequilibrium many-body systems. In particular, a hydrodynamic approach with thermal fluctuation, dubbed fluctuating hydrodynamics, successfully describes normal hydrodynamic transports in three-dimensional systems as well as anomalous transports (related to the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang universality class) in low-dimensional systems. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together theorists working on both classical and quantum many-body problems and to explore nonequilibrium physics from the viewpoint of fluctuating hydrodynamics.

Venue: Panasonic Hall, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University (Main Venue) / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Recent Developments and Challenges in Topological Phases

June 3 (Mon) - 14 (Fri) 2024

Thanks to intensive research efforts, topology has been established as a fundamental concept in physics. For closed quantum systems, the classification of gapped topological phases has matured. Moreover, the importance of topology is not limited to isolated quantum systems. Recently, the topology of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, which effectively describe systems with dissipation, has attracted much attention worldwide. This fascination is exemplified by topological phases and topological phenomena unique to non-Hermitian systems. Against this background, the primary purpose of this workshop is to bring together researchers working on topological phases and to discuss (i) open questions in topological phases of closed quantum systems and (ii) the role of topology in open quantum systems and measurements.

Venue: Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University

Event Official Language: English

iTHEMS-YITP Workshop: Bootstrap, Localization and Holography

May 20 (Mon) - 24 (Fri) 2024

Venue: Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University

Event Official Language: English

Nuclear Fusion and its Interdisciplinary Fields

May 14 (Tue) 9:00 - 18:15, 2024

We will learn about nuclear fusion and related subjects, such as turbulence in astronomy and astrophysics, from experts and discuss possible interdisciplinary collaborations in the near future. Some researchers will visit RIKEN iTHEMS from the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) and other universities and research institutes for the workshop. We will have the workshop in a hybrid style so that many researchers in Japan can hear the presentations even remotely. This workshop is supported by Moonshot Goal 10 (Program Director Yoshida Zensho (NIFS)). Program Session１ 9:00-9:35 (25+10: 25 mins for Presentation, 10 mins for Q&A)：Shinya Maeyama 9:35-10:10 (25+10): Naoki Sato 10:10-10:45 (25+10): Yohei Kawazura 10:45-11:15 Coffee Break Session２ 11:15-11:50 (25+10): Takanobu Amano 11:50-12:25 (25+10): Yosuke Matsumoto 12:25-13:00 (25+10): Akira Mizuta 13:00-14:00 Lunch Break Session３ 14:00-14:35 (25+10): Chiho Nonaka 14:35-15:10 (25+10): Takeo Hoshi 15:10-15:45 (25+10): Motoki Nakata 15:45-16:15 Coffee Break Session ４ 16:15-16:50 (25+10): Kumiko Hori 16:50-17:25 (25+10): Yutaka Ohira 17:25-18:00 (25+10): Camilia Demidem (TBC) 18:30-20:30: Dinner in the Main Research Building.

Venue: Seminar Room #359 (Main Venue) / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Condensed Matter Physics of QCD 2024

March 11 (Mon) - 22 (Fri) 2024

Gordon Baym (Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois, USA)
Muneto Nitta (Professor, Keio University)
Mark Alford (Professor, Washington University in St. Louis, USA)
Sanjay Reddy (Professor, University of Washington, USA)
Dam Thanh Son (Professor, The University of Chicago, USA)
Mikhail Stephanov (Professor, The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), USA)
Kenji Fukushima (Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo)
Naoki Yamamoto (Associate Professor, Keio University)
Koutarou Kyutoku (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)
Yui Hayashi (JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University)
Kentaro Nishimura (Postdoctoral researcher, Hiroshima University)
Toru Kojo (Associate professor, Tohoku University)
Masakiyo Kitazawa (Lecturer, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University)

QCD at finite temperature and density is one of the most challenging problems in modern physics, which plays a crucial role to understand the origin and coevolution of the universe and matter. On the one hand, the relativistic heavy-ion collision experiments in the past decades have opened a new and exciting field to explore physical properties of such a QCD matter at high-tempearture. On the other hand, recent astrophysical observations of compact stars (in particular, events involving neutron stars) is becoming another exciting tool to unveil properties of the dense QCD matter. This molecule-type workshop is aimed at bringing together theorists working on QCD at finite-temperature and density, with a particular focus on dense quark-nuclear matter relevant to neutron star physics. We will mainly cover macroscopic properties of the finite-density QCD matter such as the Lee-Yang edge singularity for a QCD critical point, the renewed Fermi liquid theory for quark-nuclear matter, nuclear superfluidity, color superconductivity, quark-hadron continuity, quantum vortex, and transport phenomena including the weak-intearction processes.

Venue: via Zoom / Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University

Event Official Language: English

RIKEN-Nara Women's University Joint Diversity Promotion Workshop 2024

February 29 (Thu) - March 1 (Fri) 2024

The RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) and the Faculty of Science at Nara Women's University are promoting a project to foster female researchers under the auspices of the RIKEN Diversity Promotion Office. As part of the program, 23 undergraduate and graduate students from Nara Women's University will visit several laboratories on the RIKEN Wako campus to ask questions about their research and hold workshops/presentations with iTHEMS researchers. Organizers: RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program Faculty of Science, Nara Women's University Program: Thursday, February 29 13:30-14:00 Opening remarks by Tetsuo Hatsuda (C01, Main Research Bldg. room 246-248) 14:00-15:30 Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics Laboratory (CPR) (C32, Laser Bldg. 2F) 15:30-17:00 Neural Circuit of Multisensory Integration RIKEN Hakubi Research Team (CBS) (C56, Brain Science Ikenohata Bldg. 3F）　 17:00-18:30 RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) (C01, Main Research Bldg. 3F) 18:30-21:00 Presentations by Nara Women's University Students (C01, Main Research Bldg. 3F) Friday, March 1 9:00-10:30 Nishina Center RIBF Facility (RNC) (E01, Nishina RIBF Bldg.) 10:30-12:00 Cellular Informatics Laboratory (CPR) (S01, Biology Science Bldg.3F) 12:00-13:00 Lunch (C61, Welfare and Conference Bldg.) 13:00 Closing

Venue: via Zoom

Second Workshop on Fundamentals in Density Functional Theory (DFT2024)

February 20 (Tue) - 22 (Thu) 2024

The density functional theory (DFT) is one of the powerful methods to solve quantum many-body problems, which, in principle, gives the exact energy and density of the ground state. The accuracy of DFT is, in practice, determined by the accuracy of an energy density functional (EDF) since the exact EDF is still unknown. Currently, DFT has been used in many communities, including nuclear physics, quantum chemistry, and condensed matter physics, while the fundamental study of DFT, such as the first principle derivations of an accurate EDF and methods to calculate many observables from obtained densities and excited states. However, there has been little opportunity to have interdisciplinary communication. On December 2022, we had the first workshop on this series (DFT2022) at Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University, and several interdisiplinary discussions and collaborationd were started. To share such progresses and extend collaborations, we organize the second workshop. In this workshop, the current status and issues of each discipline will be shared towards solving these problems by meeting together among researchers in mathematics, nuclear physics, quantum chemistry, and condensed matter physics. This workshop mainly comprises lectures/seminars on cutting-edge topics and discussion, while a half-day session composed of contributed talks is also planned. This workshop is partially supported by iTHEMS-phys Study Group. This workshop is a part of the RIKEN Symposium Series. The detailed information can be found in the workshop website.

Venue: 8F, Integrated Innovation Building (IIB) (Main Venue) / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

“Quantum-like Modeling” in Biology, Cognitive & Social Sciences

January 26 (Fri) 9:30 - 17:00, 2024

Venue: Okochi Hall (Main Venue) / via Zoom

Event Official Language: Japanese

Functional Renormalization Group at Niigata 2024

January 7 (Sun) - 8 (Mon) 2024

Gergely Fejös (Associate Professor, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary)
Kenji Fukushima (Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo)
Kouichi Okunishi (Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, Niigata University)
Junichi Haruna (Specially Appointed Researcher, Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology, The University of Osaka)
Xu-Guang Huang (Professor, Physics Department and Center for Particle Physics and Field Theory, Fudan University, China)
Katsumi Itoh (Professor, Faculty of Education, Niigata University)
Kiyoharu Kawana (Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS), Republic of Korea)
Shunsuke Yabunaka (Researcher, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA))
Takeru Yokota (Special Postdoctoral Researcher, RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS))

One of the most fundamental challenges in theoretical physics is to uncover the physical properties of strongly-interacting quantum many-body systems. This problem is shared in both subatomic physics and condensed matter physics; e.g., to unveil ground state structures and dynamical aspects of quantum systems. However, it has been an unresolved issue to establish non-perturbative theoretical tools, which allows a reliable analytic approach to quantum many-body problems described by field theory. The Functional Renormalization Group (FRG) is proposed as one of the theoretical methods that facilitates the non-perturbative investigation of quantum many-body systems. The FRG has found applications in various fields of physics, ranging from particle and nuclear physics to condensed matter physics, leading to several unique achievements in each fields. The aim of this two-day workshop is to provide an overview of the recent applications and progress of FRG in various fields of physics, discuss future directions, and explore potential new collaborations that bridge different fields of physics.

Venue: Kaishi Professional University Yoneyama Campus (Main Venue) / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Joint RIKEN/N3AS Workshop on Multi-Messenger Astrophysics

November 26 (Sun) 9:00 - 19:00, 2023

RIKEN iTHEMS and NSF Physics Frontier Center N3AS will jointly organize a workshop on "Multi-Messenger Astrophysics" on Sunday, November 26, at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, in conjunction with the JPS/ APS DNP meeting. For the program and registration form, please visit the workshop website at the related links. The workshop is open to all and there is no registration fee. However, we ask those wishing to attend to register, to help us plan. The workshop will conclude with an early evening poster session that will combine science with an opportunity for JPS and APS participants to socialize. Organizers: Tetsuo Hatsuda（RIKEN iTHEMS) Wick Haxton (UC Berkaley, N3AS) Baha Balentekin (UW-Madison, N3AS)

Venue: Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa, Hawaii

Event Official Language: English

6th QGG Intensive Lectures: Introduction to thermalization in isolated quantum systems

November 20 (Mon) - 21 (Tue) 2023

Ryusuke Hamazaki (RIKEN Hakubi Team Leader, Nonequilibrium Quantum Statistical Mechanics RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR))

This is the sixth event by the Quantum Gravity Gatherings (QGG) Study Group at RIKEN iTHEMS. For this event we have invited Professor Ryusuke Hamazaki from RIKEN, to deliver pedagogical lectures on the thermalization in isolated quantum systems. This topic describes how a non-equilibrium quantum state relaxes to thermal equilibrium through a unitary time evolution. This theme has applications not only in statistical physics but also in many areas of physics. In particular, in the context of quantum gravity, understanding thermalization via a unitary time evolution is anticipated to be a key to resolving the information loss problem of black holes. In addition, the notion of typicality and thermalization is important in the AdS/CFT correspondence to understand black hole physics. We expect this event to provide insights to researchers in related fields. Ryusuke Hamazaki is a leading expert in this subject. It is our enormous pleasure to have the opportunity to learn from him the idea of thermalization and its applications related to realistic systems. This intensive lecture series is designed to be an interactive event. The intensive talk will be given in a face-to-face blackboard style (in English, no online streaming) to encourage informal and lively Q&A discussions. The program will also include short talk sessions, where participants can present a 5-minute talk on a topic of their choice, which could be about their own research, reviews of specific works, or future study interests.

Venue: #435-437, Main Research Building

Event Official Language: English

iTHEMS Graph-theory workshop: from basics to applications

November 13 (Mon) - 14 (Tue) 2023

Momoko Hayamizu (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University / PRESTO Researcher, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST))
Seiya Negami (Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University)
Takashi Okada (Program-Specific Associate Professor, Institute for Life And Medical Sciences, Kyoto University)
Tasuku Soma (Associate Professor, Department of Statistical Inference and Mathematics, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics / Associate Professor, Statistical Science Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI))
Shun'ichi Azuma (Professor, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University)

We will hold a two-day workshop on graph theory, which covers a variety of topics including basic concepts and theorems in graph-theory; graph-embedding; phylogenetic tree construction; chemical reaction networks; and cactus network theory. The details are found in the website linked below.

Venue: #435-437, Main Research Building

Event Official Language: English

International Workshop on Blockchain Technology: Blockchain Kaigi 2023 (BCK23)

October 28 (Sat) - 29 (Sun) 2023

The International workshop Blockchain Kaigi (Kaigi: Meeting, Conference) aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from various communities of science and technology working on areas related to FinTech, crypto-asset, and blockchain. On February 17th – 18th of 2021 the international workshop “Blockchain in Kyoto 2021 (BCK21)” was held at Kyoto University, and the following year on August 4th – 5th the international workshop “BCK22: Blockchain Kaigi 2022” was held at Tohoku University, both gathered many participants from all over the world and ended successfully. As the third step, the international workshop “BCK23: Blockchain Kaigi 2023” will be held on October 28th -29th, 2023 at RIKEN’s Kobe Campus (Kobe City). Topics for this international conference include, but are not limited to the following. Crypto assets, cryptocurrencies Blockchain technology, cryptography/mathematics B2B and B2C solutions Anomaly detection, cyber security Digital Asset Market, Central Bank Digital Currency CBDC smart contract Application to energy and environmental problems Application to financial inclusion, remittance and digital identity Innovation policy Legal and regulatory issues Network Science, Graph Theory, Mathematics of Hypergraphs

Venue: 8F, SUURI-COOL (Kobe)

Event Official Language: English

Introduction to F-Theory

October 18 (Wed) - 20 (Fri) 2023

Shun'ya Mizoguchi (Associate Professor, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK))

This is the fifth event hosted by the Quantum Gravity Gatherings (QGG) Study Group at RIKEN iTHEMS. For this event, we have invited Professor Shun'ya Mizoguchi from KEK, Tsukuba, to deliver pedagogical lectures on the F-theory and its relation to particle physics. We aim for this event to provide insights to researchers in related fields. Originally, heterotic string theory was a promising candidate for describing our world, as it naturally incorporated Grand Unified Theory (GUT) based on an exceptional gauge group. However, heterotic theory encounters challenges in moduli fixing. On the other hand, type II theory has an advantage in moduli fixing, but realizing GUT proves to be challenging. The F-theory describes the strongly coupled type IIB string theory, fully utilizing string dualities. This theory appears to realize both the moduli fixing and GUT. Consequently, F-theory plays a central role in string phenomenology. Shun'ya is a leading expert in these areas. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to learn numerous insights into string theory as well as particle physics. This intensive lecture series is designed to be an interactive event. To facilitate this, the number of participants will be limited to approximately 30. The intensive talk will be given in a face-to-face blackboard style (in English, no online streaming) to encourage informal and lively Q&A discussions. The program will also include short talk sessions, where participants can present a 5-minute talk on a topic of their choice, including their research, reviews of specific works, or future study interests.

Venue: #435-437, 4F, Main Research Building

Event Official Language: English