Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

Researcher

Tenure in FRIS 2014.12-2018.5

Hirokazu Kawamura

Assistant ProfessorAdvanced Basic Science

Mentor Information
Professor
Hiroshi Watabe(Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center)
Research Fields Nuclear physics experiment
Research Subjects
  • Development of a detection method of rare isotopes using laser cooling technique
  • Study of fundamental symmetries using laser-cooled francium atoms
Academic Society Membership The Physical Society of Japan
Research Outline  

Any matters are constructed from a variety of atoms, which mostly consist of stable nuclei with an infinite lifetime. There are around 300 nuclei existing in nature, while several thousands of unstable nuclei can be produced using an accelerator. The unique properties of unstable nuclei are available for fundamental science, such as astrophysics and particle physics. Moreover, unstable nuclei are utilized in medicine and engineering, and become familiar with the public in recent years.

We are studying in order to discover the new physics beyond the standard model of particle physics using the factory of laser-cooled radioactive francium atoms at Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center. The laser cooling techniques, which can cool atoms to ultralow temperature through the interaction between atoms and laser beam, are useful to precisely measure the property of atoms. The experimental observation of the permanent electric-dipole moment of francium immediately means the discovery of the unknown phenomenon. The research and development are in progress to search for the electric-dipole moment.

The technique of cooling radioactive atoms by laser is also available for a detection of rare isotopes. The detecting techniques are needed in various disciplines, for example, radioactive dating and tracer analysis. Even single atom can be trapped and detected by applying the laser cooling techniques. Such a technique would lead to enlargement and progression of related fields because it is expected to realize more precise measurement of the radioactive isotopes and elements.

This experiment aims at expansion into many disciplines based on the combination of nuclear physics and quantum optics.

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