Volume 59

iTHEMS Weekly News Letter

Announcement

Web page of iTHEMS QCoIn WG has launched.

2019-06-28

The web page of iTHEMS QCoIn (Quantum Computation and Information) working group has launched. QCoIn Seminars/workshops, lecture slides and other information are posted there.
Feel free to visit the site.

Award

Akinori Tanaka thumbnail

Akinori Tanaka received particle physics medal

2019-06-26

Our iTHEMS member, Dr. Akinori Tanaka (AIP/iTHEMS) together with Dr. Akio Tomiya (RIKEN BNL Research Center) have received "14th Particle Physics Medal: Young Scientist Award in Theoretical Particle Physics” from Japan Particle and Nuclear Theory Forum. They were awarded in recognition of their recent paper: Akinori Tanaka, Akio Tomiya “Detection of Phase Transition via Convolutional Neural Networks,” J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 86, 063001 (2017).
The citation reads: This paper answers the important question of whether machine learning can capture the existence of phase transition. In this study, in the classical Ising model, spin configurations at various temperatures are generated, and pairs of (configuration, temperature) are used as data. A convolutional neural network is prepared, input data is set, output data is temperature, and machine learning is performed to predict the temperature from the configuration. In the obtained neural network, when the weight of the network connecting the final layer and the layer immediately before it is plotted as a heat map, it can be seen that a large change occurs near the phase transition temperature. This is evidence that machine learning has captured a phase transition. This paper, which shows that machine learning can not only reproduce and use known concepts but also extract the physical concept of phase transition point, is very original and links the subsequent physics and machine learning It made one of the foundations of research. From these facts, we consider this paper to be an award-winning paper.
(The above citation was translated from the original in Japanese by use of Google Translation, in order to demonstrate the recent development of Machine Learning)

Congratulations, Akinori and Akio!

Upcoming Events

Seminar

ABBL-iTHEMS Joint Astro Seminar

ABBL/iTHEMS/r-EMU Joint Seminar: Towards systematic and consistent nuclear data inputs for astrophysical r-process with Bayesian approaches

June 28 (Fri) at 14:00 - 15:00, 2019

Haozhao Liang (Senior Research Scientist, Quantum Hadron Physics Laboratory, RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science (RNC))

This is his 2nd seminar talk for non-experts of nuclear physics, following the 1st one on 18th Jan. 2019.

Abstract:
In this interdisciplinary talk, I will start with some basic concepts as well as some frontiers of nuclear physics, and then introduce the roles of nuclear data inputs for the study of astrophysical rapid neutron-capture process (r-process), which is responsible for the creation of approximately half the abundances of the atomic nuclei heavier than iron. Recent progress in nuclear physics focuses on improving the accuracy of crucial nuclear inputs, such as nuclear masses, beta-decay half-lives. Nevertheless, in most of the studies these inputs are investigated individually. One of our ongoing attempts is to organize the crucial nuclear inputs in a systematic and consistent way, together with Bayesian and/or machine learning approaches, which are able to provide not only the theoretical results but also the corresponding uncertainties.

Venue: 224-226, Main Research Building

Event Official Language: English

Colloquium

iTHEMS Colloquium

Spacetime Geometry of Black Holes, Wormholes, and Time Machines

July 2 (Tue) at 15:30 - 17:00, 2019

Pei-Ming Ho (Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan)

Since the advent of General Relativity, people have found many solutions with interesting spacetime geometries. Most notably, the black holes have attracted a lot of attention for their roles in generating gravitational waves, and for inducing the information loss paradox. In this talk, we consider black holes amongst other geometric structures and investigate the subtlety involved in the quantum effect such as Hawking radiation. In this context, we mention wormholes and time machines, and explain how they are conceptually related to the geometry under the horizon of a black hole. There will also be comments on my recent research result about how quantum effect must be large for observers sitting on top of the black hole horizon.

Venue: Large Meeting Room, 2F Welfare and Conference Building (Cafeteria), RIKEN

Broadcast: R511, Computational Science Research Building, R-CCS, Kobe Campus, RIKEN / SUURI-COOL (Kyoto), #204-205, 2F Maskawa Building for Education and Research, North Campus, Kyoto University / SUURI-COOL (Sendai), #303, 3F AIMR Main Building, Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University

Event Official Language: English

Workshop

1-day Workshop on Quantum Gravity

July 4 (Thu) at 9:30 - 18:00, 2019

In order to construct a quantum theory of gravity, it is currently required to study freely from various viewpoints. In this small workshop, we will discuss various different topics such as field theory, string theory, quantum black hole, quantum universe and so on, and will consider future directions to quantum gravity casually but deeply. Let's enjoy exciting discussions!

Venue: Seminar Room #132, 1F Main Research Building, RIKEN

Event Official Language: English

Workshop

SOKENDAI-iTHEMS Joint Workshop "Genetics meets Mathematics"

July 7 (Sun) - 8 (Mon), 2019

Jeffrey Fawcett (Senior Research Scientist, iTHEMS)

7月7,8日に総研大葉山キャンパス近くの研修施設レクトーレ葉山にて遺伝・進化の研究者と数学・物理の研究者の交流を深めることを目的としたインフォーマルなワークショップを開催します。

生物の知識が全くない(主に数学・物理の)研究者を対象とした、生命の分子レベルでの多様性を説明しうる集団遺伝や分子進化の理論などに関するレクチャーを行います。また、今後の相互作用の可能性がありそうなテーマに取り組む数学・物理の研究者にも講演していただきます。

参加費・宿泊費は無料(懇親会費を頂く場合があります)で、前日の7/6と7/7に会場の宿泊施設に泊まることが可能です。プログラムの詳細は今後変更する場合があります。

登録締切:6/24
(宿泊者数に限りがあるため早めに締め切る場合があります)

Organizers: Jeffrey Fawcett (RIKEN iTHEMS), Tetsuo Hatsuda (RIKEN iTHEMS), Shohei Takuno (SOKENDAI), Hideki Innan (SOKENDAI)

Venue: LecTore Hayama

Event Official Language: Japanese

Workshop

Workshop on Sine-square deformation and related topics 2019

July 11 (Thu) at 10:00 - 18:00, 2019

Colloquium

The 9th MACS Colloquium thumbnail

MACS ColloquiumSupported by iTHEMSSUURI-COOL (Kyoto)

The 9th MACS Colloquium

July 12 (Fri) at 16:15 - 18:50, 2019

Makoto Fujita (Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
Kazutoshi Mori (Professor, Department of Biophysics, Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)

16:15- Teatime
16:30- Talk by Prof. Makoto Fujita
17:50- Talk by Prof. Kazutoshi Mori

The 9th MACS colloquium supported by iTHEMS. It will be broadcasted to Wako, but if you can join the colloquium physically in Kyoto, that would be better. iTHEMS provides good confectionery at Kyoto!

Venue: Lecture room #401, Graduate School of Science Building No 6, Kyoto University

Event Official Language: Japanese

External Event

Don Warren thumbnail

Interstellar Memes

July 25 (Thu) at 20:00 - 21:30, 2019

Don Warren (Research Scientist, iTHEMS)

Memes are to cultures what genes are to people: ideas, behaviors, or styles that are transmitted within the culture and can propagate or die out. The universe is a big place. How much of it knows about Grumpy Cat? Tale of Genji? Earth?

Cost: JPY1,500 including a drink

Venue: Good Heavens Bar (2F 5-32-5 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0032)

Event Official Language: English

Workshop

Co-hosted by iTHEMSSUURI-COOL (Kyoto)

RIMS-iTHEMS joint WS on "Math of Jets"

July 29 (Mon) - 31 (Wed), 2019

Co-hosted by RIMS Kyoto University and iTHEMS RIKEN.

Venue: Kyoto University, Main Campus Research Bldg No 15, #201

Event Official Language: Japanese

Workshop

Math-Life Workshop

August 19 (Mon) - 20 (Tue), 2019

Organizers
Masaharu Nagayama (MSC, Hokkaido Univ.)
Tetsuo Hatsuda (iTHEMS, RIKEN)
Hiroshi Suito (AIMR, Tohoku Univ.)
Takayuki Sakajyo (SACRA, Kyoto Univ.)

Venue: 1F Seminar Room, Frontier Research in Applied Sciences Building, Hokkaido Univ.

Event Official Language: Japanese

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