Volume 382

iTHEMS Weekly News Letter

Hot Topic

The 1st Joint General Meeting of RIKEN Quantum and the QII RIKEN User Group on October 24, 2025

2025-11-12

On Friday, October 24, the 1st Joint General Meeting of RIKEN Quantum and the QII RIKEN User Group was held at Okochi Hall on the RIKEN Wako campus, bringing together RIKEN researchers who utilize the ibm_kawasaki quantum computer.

The meeting featured lively discussions on quantum computing research at RIKEN across a wide range of disciplines, including condensed matter physics, particle, nuclear and astrophysics, biomedical sciences, and the humanities. With over 60 participants, including members from IBM Quantum, the event was a great success.

This meeting is expected to further accelerate the development of quantum computing research at RIKEN in the future.

Award

Seishiro Ono receives the Young Scientist Award of the Physical Society of Japan

2025-11-13

Seishiro Ono (Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo/Visiting Scientist, RIKEN iTHEMS) has received the Young Scientist Award (Division 4) presented by the Physical Society of Japan (JPS). The awarded research is titled “Classification of Topological Superconducting Phases by Symmetry Indicators.” This award recognizes outstanding young researchers under the age of 37 who are expected to contribute to the future of physics. Ono was recognized for his pioneering theoretical work on topological superconductors.
Congratulations, Seishiro!

Upcoming Events

Others

Mathematical Application Research Team Meeting #10

November 14 (Fri) 16:00 - 17:00, 2025

Yoshiko Ogata (Professor, Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences (RIMS), Kyoto University)

Mathematical Application Research Team invites Prof. Yoshiko Ogata from RIMS for this meeting. Her talk title will be announced later. You are welcome to join the meeting.

The title and the abstract of her talk are:

Title: Mixed state topological order: operator algebraic approach

Abstract: We consider anyons in mixed states of two-dimensional quantum spin systems within the operator-algebraic framework of quantum statistical mechanics. To each state satisfying a mixed-state version of approximate Haag duality, we associate a braided C*-tensor category, which we interpret as describing the anyonic excitations of the state. We then investigate how these anyonic structures behave under interactions with the environment.

Venue: #359, Seminar Room #359, 3F Main Research Building, RIKEN / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Seminar

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Quantum Computation SG Seminar

Chiral anomaly in Hamiltonian lattice gauge theory

November 18 (Tue) 10:00 - 12:00, 2025

Arata Yamamoto (Senior Research Scientist, Quantum Mathematical Science Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science, RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS))

The 4th quantum computing gathering organized by Quantum Computing Study Group

Venue: Seminar Room #359, 3F Main Research Building, RIKEN / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Lecture

9th QGG Intensive Lectures – Correlation Effects in Quantum Many-Body Systems: Some Prototypical Examples in Condensed Matter Physics

November 19 (Wed) - 20 (Thu) 2025

Norio Kawakami (Deputy Director, Fundamental Quantum Science Program, TRIP Headquarters, RIKEN)

The ninth installment of the Intensive Lecture Series, organized by the Quantum Gravity Gatherings (QGG) study group at RIKEN iTHEMS, will feature Prof. Norio Kawakami from the Fundamental Quantum Science Program (FQSP) under RIKEN's Transformative Research Innovative Platform (TRIP). Over the course of two days, Prof. Kawakami will deliver a lecture series on quantum many-body systems.

In recent years, insights from quantum many-body physics have become central to research in quantum gravity, where correlation effects induced by gravity play nontrivial roles. By bridging perspectives from gravitational physics and quantum many-body dynamics, one hopes to understand how macroscopic spacetime and its geometric properties emerge from the collective behavior of quantum constituents at microscopic scales.

In this lecture series, Prof. Kawakami will introduce the fundamental properties of correlation effects through representative examples in condensed matter physics. A distinctive aspect of this event is its joint organization with the Fundamental Quantum Science Program (FQSP) at RIKEN. The goal is to further strengthen connections between the quantum gravity, condensed matter, and quantum information communities.

The lectures will be delivered in a blackboard-style format (in English), designed to foster interaction, active participation, and in-depth Q&A discussions. In addition, short talk sessions will be held, giving participants the opportunity to present briefly on topics of their choice. Through this informal and dynamic setting, we hope to spark active interactions among participants and create an environment where ideas can be shared openly and enthusiastically.

Abstract:
Some examples of theoretical methods to treat strongly correlated systems in condensed matter physics are explained. We start with the Kondo effect, which is one of the most fundamental quantum many-body problems and has been intensively studied to date in a wide variety of topics such as dilute magnetic alloys, heavy fermion systems, quantum dot systems, etc. Dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) is then introduced, which enables us to systematically treat strongly correlated materials such as a Mott insulator. It is shown that the essence of DMFT is closely related to the Kondo effect. Furthermore, we explain how to apply conformal field theory (CFT) to treat correlation effects in one-dimensional electron systems.

Topics of these lectures include:

  1. Introduction to quantum many-body systems in condensed matter physics
  2. The Kondo effect: a prototypical quantum many-body problem
  3. Dynamical mean-field theory: a generic method to study correlation effects
  4. Application of CFT to correlated electron systems in one dimension

For more information, please visit the event webpage from the links below.

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

Event Official Language: English

Seminar

iTHEMS Biology Seminar

Adaptive navigation strategies in adversarial predator-prey contexts

November 20 (Thu) 13:00 - 14:00, 2025

Nozomi Nishiumi (Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Academic Assembly Institute of Science and Technology, Niigata University)

Animal navigation has long been a central topic in behavioral biology. In predator-prey systems, both predators and prey must navigate strategically - predators to capture prey and prey to reach safety - each evolving to outsmart the other through coevolution. To uncover the essence of these navigation strategies, I have investigated behavioral mechanisms across taxa. In bats, my collaborators and I found that they integrate multiple sensory and flight tactics to keep erratically flying moths within detection range. In pigeons, we discovered that individuals anticipating drone attacks adjust their positions toward the rear within the flock. I will also introduce an experimental framework that enables controlled interactions between real animals and virtual agents driven by reactive motion control, allowing quantitative tests of navigation efficiency. Through this seminar, I aim to highlight how studies of predator-prey navigation can bridge biology and engineering, providing insights into adaptive decision-making in dynamic environments.

Venue: Seminar Room #359, Seminar Room #359, 3F Main Research Building, RIKEN / via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Seminar

DEEP-IN Seminar

Hamiltonian Learning and Dynamics Prediction via Machine Learning

November 26 (Wed) 15:00 - 16:00, 2025

Li Keren (Assistant Professor, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, China)

Accurate prediction of quantum Hamiltonian dynamics and identification of Hamiltonian parameters are crucial for advancements in quantum simulations, error correction, and control protocols. This talk introduces a machine learning model with dual capabilities: it can deduce time-dependent Hamiltonian parameters from observed changes in local observables within quantum many-body systems, and it can predict the evolution of these observables based on Hamiltonian parameters. The model’s validity was confirmed through theoretical simulations across various scenarios and further validated by two experiments. Initially, the model was applied to a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance quantum computer, where it accurately predicted the dynamics of local observables. The model was then tested on a superconducting quantum computer with initially unknown Hamiltonian parameters, successfully inferring them. We believe that machine learning techniques hold great promise for enhancing a wide range of quantum computing tasks, including parameter estimation, noise characterization, feedback control, and quantum control optimization.

References

  1. Zheng An, Jiahui Wu, Zidong Lin, Xiaobo Yang, Keren Li, and Bei Zeng, Dual-Capability Machine Learning Models for Quantum Hamiltonian Parameter Estimation and Dynamics Prediction, Physical Review Letters 134, no. 12, 120202. (2025), doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.120202, arXiv: 2405.13582
  2. Keren Li, Floquet-informed Learning of Periodically Driven Hamiltonians, arXiv: 2509.02331

Venue: via Zoom

Event Official Language: English

Seminar

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Social Behavior Seminar

Introduction to Game Theory #3

November 27 (Thu) 11:00 - 12:00, 2025

Yohsuke Murase (Team Director, Mathematical Social Science Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science, RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS))

An introductory lecture on game theory to promote potential interdisciplinary collaborations. No prior knowledge is required — the lecture is intended for non-experts. We will cover the fundamental concepts to help you build an intuitive understanding of how game theory analyzes strategic interactions.
After briefly reviewing the previous lectures, we will talk about repeated games, where players are engaged in games repeatedly.

Venue: via Zoom / Seminar Room #359, 3F Main Research Building, RIKEN

Event Official Language: English

Colloquium

The 30th MACS Colloquium thumbnail

MACS ColloquiumSupported by iTHEMS

The 30th MACS Colloquium

November 28 (Fri) 14:45 - 18:00, 2025

Isao Ishikawa (Program-Specific Associate Professor, Center for Science Adventure and Collaborative Research Advancement (SACRA), Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)
Ken-ichi Kurotani (Associate Professor, Center for Science Adventure and Collaborative Research Advancement (SACRA), Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)

14:45-15:00 Teatime discussion
15:00–16:00 Talk by Dr. Isao Ishikawa (Program-Specific Associate Professor, Center for Science Adventure and Collaborative Research Advancement (SACRA), Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)
16:15–17:15 Talk by Dr. Ken-ichi Kurotani (Associate Professor, Center for Science Adventure and Collaborative Research Advancement (SACRA), Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)
17:15-18:00 Discussion

Venue: Science Seminar House (Map 9), Kyoto University

Event Official Language: Japanese

Seminar

Cosmology Group Seminar

Quantum Information in Scattering: From Amplitude Poles to Entanglement Features

December 4 (Thu) 14:00 - 16:00, 2025

Chon Man Sou (Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China)

Probing quantum entanglement in high-energy collisions has recently become a rapidly growing direction in particle physics, aiming to measure quantum correlations at the highest energy scales accessible to humans. A key question is how such entanglement relies on the analytic structure of scattering amplitudes. In this talk, I will show that the pole structure, associated with intermediate heavy particles, leads to distinctive entanglement features. When a heavy particle mediates inelastic scatterings with three or more final particles, the entanglement entropy between its decay products and the rest exhibits a universal dip as the energy increases, reflecting the limited information flow through on-shell heavy particles and signaling entanglement suppression in the heavy-particle-dominated regime. This reveals entanglement structures beyond the usual “area-law” behavior of 2-to-2 processes. Finally, I will comment on possible ways to probe these features experimentally through analyses of final-state phase-space distributions. This talk is based on JHEP 10 (2025) 003 [arXiv: 2507.03555].

Venue: Hybrid Format (3F #359 and Zoom), Seminar Room #359, 3F Main Research Building, RIKEN

Event Official Language: English

Seminar

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iTHEMS Biology Seminar

Origin and evolutionary history of an urban underground mosquito

December 18 (Thu) 13:00 - 14:00, 2025

Yuki Haba (Postdoc, Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, USA)

Urbanization is rapidly reshaping landscapes around the world, which poses questions about whether and how quickly animals and plants can adapt. Culex pipiens form molestus, more commonly known as the "London Underground mosquito," has been held up as a benchmark for the potential speed and complexity of urban adaptation. This intraspecific lineage within Cx. pipiens, a major West Nile virus vector, is purported to have evolved human biting and a suite of other human-adaptive behaviors in the subways and cellars of northern Europe within the past 200 years. Form molestus features prominently in textbooks as well as scholarly reviews of urban adaptation. Yet, the hypothesis of in situ urban evolution has never been rigorously tested.

I will talk our recent efforts to understand the contentious origin and evolutionary history of the urban, human-biting mosquito. Our synthesis and meta-analysis of rich yet confusing literature show that its London Underground origin is unlikely (Haba and McBride 2022 Current Biology). Whole genome resequencing and population genomics of 800+ mosquitoes across ~50 countries again debunk the in situ evolution hypothesis and instead support that molestus first adapted to human environments >1000 years ago in the Mediterranean or Middle East, most likely in ancient Egypt or another early agricultural society (Haba et al. 2025 Science). I will outline implications of our results in urban evolutionary biology as well as in public health.

Speaker Bio
Yuki Haba, Ph.D., is an evolutionary biologist passionate about understanding how and why diverse behaviors evolve in nature. He is currently a Leon Levy Scholar in Neuroscience at Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. He aims to take multi-desciplinary approaches, combining genomics, neuroscience, and field-based behavioral ecology to comprehensively understand the evolution of behavior. Yuki completed his PhD at Princeton, MA at Columbia, and undergraduate degree at the University of Tokyo. Personal webpage: https://yukihaba.github.io/

Venue: Seminar Room #359, 3F Main Research Building, RIKEN

Event Official Language: English

Colloquium

iTHEMS Colloquium

Measuring evolutionary forces of cultural change

January 13 (Tue) 14:00 - 15:30, 2026

Joshua B. Plotkin (Walter H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor of the Natural Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, USA)

I will describe how to measure the forces that drive cultural change, using inference tools from evolutionary theory. We study time series data from large corpora of parsed English texts to identify what drives language change over the course of centuries. We also measure frequency-dependent effects in time series of baby names and purebred dog preferences. The form of frequency dependence we infer helps to explain the diversity distribution of names, and it replicates across the United States, France, Norway and the Netherlands. We find different growth laws for male versus female names, attributable to different rates of innovation, whereas names from the bible enjoy a genuine advantage at all frequencies. Frequency dependence emerges from a host of underlying social and cultural mechanisms, including a preference for novelty that recapitulates fashion trends in dog owners. Studying culture through the lens of evolutionary theory provides a quantitative account of social pressures to conform or to be different; and it provides inference tools that may be used in biology as genetic and phenotypic time series are increasingly available.

Venue: Okochi Hall, 1F Laser Science Laboratory, RIKEN / via Zoom

Register: Zoom registration form

Event Official Language: English

Workshop

iTHEMS Cosmology Forum n°5 - Effective Field Theory approaches across the Universe

January 29 (Thu) 10:00 - 17:00, 2026

Katsuki Aoki (Research Assistant Professor, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University)
Toshifumi Noumi (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Lucas Pinol (CNRS Researcher, LPENS, CNRS/École Normale Supérieure, France)

This fifth workshop will bring together researchers exploring the effective field theory (EFT) framework in diverse cosmological contexts. Topics will include EFT formulations of interacting dark matter and dark energy, open EFTs for gravity, and multi-field inflationary dynamics. By highlighting recent progress and open questions, the workshop seeks to bridge insights from the early and late universe through the unifying language of EFT. In addition to the invited talks, the workshop will feature a panel discussion designed to promote interaction between the speakers and participants.

One of the key goals of this event is to foster collaboration among researchers working in neighboring fields, and to encourage participation from young and early-career researchers who are interested in, but may not yet have worked on, these themes. The workshop welcomes a broad audience with an interest in theoretical cosmology, gravitation, and quantum field theory.

The workshops are organised by the Cosmology Study Group at RIKEN iTHEMS.

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

Register: Event registration form

Event Official Language: English

Paper of the Week

Week 3, November 2025

2025-11-13

Title: Chiral Anomaly of Kogut-Susskind Fermion in (3+1)-dimensional Hamiltonian formalism
Author: Shoto Aoki, Yoshio Kikukawa, Toshinari Takemoto
arXiv: http://arxiv.org/abs/2511.06198v1

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