情報理論ワーキンググループ

Objectives

Mathematics and the theoretical sciences encompass a diverse array of fields, and recent years have witnessed a growing interest in understanding our world through the lens of information theory. This perspective is uniquely powerful in bridging the physical and biological sciences. For example, while chaotic systems can be characterized by topological entropy, information theory also provides the fundamental mathematical framework for quantifying (bio)diversity. Measures of entropy and Markov processes are now essential for understanding complex ecological networks, evolutionary dynamics, and mechanisms of species coexistence.

Furthermore, in the realm of physics, entropy production, a quantity measuring irreversibility in, e.g., dynamical systems, can be related to information flow, forming a central theme in the field of information thermodynamics. Considering the increasing accessibility of quantum computing systems, particularly with the establishment of the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC), it is more crucial than ever to stay abreast of theoretical trends, critically assessing the current capabilities of information theory across all scales.

Our objective is thus twofold: (i) to share interdisciplinary methods (e.g., theoretical frameworks and computational techniques), and (ii) to identify key research topics from an information-theoretic perspective. By unifying seemingly disparate ideasfrom quantum systems to biodiversitywe aim to explore novel research directions and foster deep connections across physics, mathematics, biology, machine learning, and other mathematically driven fields.

Facilitators:

Kyosuke Adachi (RIKEN iTHEMS/RIKEN BDR) – Contact: kyosuke.adachi@riken.jp

Yukimi Goto (Univ. Tokyo)

Ryusuke Hamazaki (RIKEN Hakubi/RIKEN iTHEMS)

Ryosuke Iritani (RIKEN iTHEMS)

Akinori Tanaka (RIKEN AIP/RIKEN iTHEMS)