Over two days on Monday, June 9th and Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, the “Quantum Materials Workshop and Lab Tour” was held at Tohoku University as part of the activities of AOS (University of Washington-Tohoku University: Academic Open Space), jointly established by Tohoku university and University of Washington in the United States. This event is part of an international workshop series where researchers from University of Washington and Tohoku University gather to share and discuss the latest research findings on quantum materials. It has been held alternately in Seattle and Sendai twice a year. The planning and organization were led by Professor Makoto Kohda, Professor Takafumi Sato, Specially Appointed Visiting Professor Fumio Ohuchi, and Specially Appointed Visiting Professor Tetsuo Eto, on Tohoku side.
For this time, three faculty members from University of Washington visited Japan: Prof. Xiaodong Xu, Prof. Di Xiao, and Prof. Ting Cao, while multiple researchers from Tohoku University participated, including Professor Makoto Kohda and Professor Takafumi Sato.
June 9th: Laboratory Visits and Discussions
On the first day, a lab tour was conducted visiting research laboratories within the Katahira and Aobayama campuses. Starting with Kohda lab, visits were made to Kato lab, Ozawa lab, Otsuka lab, Nomura lab, and Sato lab. At each laboratory, active discussions were held regarding research on electron spin waves, 2D materials, quantum structure devices, and other topics.
June 10th: Quantum Materials Workshop
The workshop was held at Tohoku University’s AIMR (Advanced Institute for Materials Research), featuring lectures by internationally leading researchers.
• Prof. Xu presented on“Optical control of quantum anomalous Hall effect”
• Prof. Xiao talked about “Projective Construction of Fractional Chern Insulator Wave functions”
• Prof. Cao discussed “Moiré Superlattices and Beyond: AI-Driven First-Principles Modeling and Quantum Computing of Correlated Topological Phases”
Also, Dr. Yoshihiro Iwasa, Group Director of Institute of Physical and Chemical Research addressed “Nonreciprocal transport in 2D/topological materials”
From Tohoku University, Prof. Sato and Prof. Kohda presented cutting-edge research on electronic states of quantum materials using micro-ARPES and SnS crystal growth respectively.
Toward International Collaboration with University of Washington
This workshop aimed to strengthen international collaboration in quantum materials research, and specific discussions were held among participants regarding future joint research and personnel exchanges.
Prof. Kohda commented on the achievement of the workshop, stating, “This workshop facilitated the sharing cutting-edge research findings from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, revealing many commonalities and complementary relationships among Japanese and American researchers.” He further added, “Moving forward, we aim to concretize research themes based upon these connections, actively promote exchanges among students and young researchers, and develop this into a long-term and sustainable framework for international collaborative research.”
As the workshop concluded, Prof. Masahiro Yamaguchi, Vice President of Tohoku University delivered closing remarks and expressed great expectations for the continued development of research collaborations and researcher exchanges based on the robust international relationships established through this exchange.
Through these efforts, it is expected that international research networks in the field of quantum materials will be expanded and deepened.
Contact:
Global Strategy Office, Tohoku University
Email: kokusai-r@grp.tohoku.ac.jp