The University of Washington-Tohoku University Academic Open Space (hereinafter ‘AOS’) carries out activities to promote academic, student, and faculty exchanges between the two universities.
On March 14, Prof. Xiaodong Xu and Prof. Di Xiao from the University of Washington’s Department of Physics and Department of Materials Science & Engineering were invited to an AOS Quantum Forum as part of the AOS activities.
Prof. Xu focuses on the creation, analysis and comprehension of quantum materials and devices, and has an impressive number of projects on quantum information science in development.
In relation to quantum information science, Prof. Xiao also works on theoretical modeling on new quantum materials with a particular focus on topological phenomena. Prof. Xiao’s research has generated interest among many institutions.
This event provided an opportunity for exchanges between Tohoku University’s quantum researchers and researchers from the University of Washington who are very active in the field of quantum physics. It was also a chance for the participants to explore the possibility of future collaborations.
Vice President Masahiro Yamaguchi gave the opening remarks which touched on the background behind the establishments of the AOS and past achievements. He also expressed his hopes toward the strengthening of collaborations with the University of Washington in quantum-related fields through the AOS.
Prof. Taro Yamashita from the Graduate School of Engineering presented an overview of Tohoku University’s quantum research. Thereafter, Prof. Takafumi Sato from the Advanced Institute of Material Research (AIMR), Prof. Makoto Kohda from the Graduate School of Engineering, and Associate Prof. Toshiaki Kato from AIMR followed, respectively, to introduce their research.
Following the presentations, Prof. Xu provided a seminar entitled ‘The Observation of Fractional Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect’, and Prof. Xiao’s presented ‘Topological States in Twisted Bilayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides’.
The graduate students present asked various questions and made interesting comments.
At the roundtable discussion held after the seminars, members from both universities agreed that students and early-career faculty members could gain new perspectives by interacting and sharing insights from their different standpoints and respective strengths in the quantum-related fields. They all agreed to further strengthen the two universities’ collaborative relationship through workshops and other exchange opportunities.
In addition to the forum, Prof. Xu and Prof. Xiao went on a tour of the Research Institute of Electrical Communication and AIMR, and then visited NanoTerasu. Through the tours and opportunities to speak with Tohoku University’s faculty members, the two professors deepened their understanding of research at the university.
It is hoped that this event will lead to further progress in collaborative activities within the quantum-related fields at the two universities.