Masanori Hirano (D2), Department of Systems Innovation, received Best Paper Award in IIAI International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics 2022

On 5th July 2022, Masanori Hirano (D2), Department of Systems Innovation, received Best Paper Award in IIAI International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics 2022.


Best Paper Award in IIAI International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics 2022
https://iaiai.org/conference/aai2022/

About awarded research
Our research is aimed at precise control and observation of materials using lasers. Laser cooling is a technique to cool atoms down to cryogenic temperatures by using the momentum of light. Laser-cooled atoms can be controlled and observed as desired, and therefore are ideal platforms for many studies, including tests of fundamental physics and quantum calculations.
In this research, we have developed the basic techniques for laser cooling of carbon atoms, which is expected to be applied to a wide range of natural sciences but has been considered difficult to realize. By utilizing laser irradiation-induced sublimation of carbon and a deep-ultraviolet pulsed laser that we originally constructed, we have captured evidence of two fundamental cooling processes (gas production and excitation of optical transitions).
This is the first demonstration of the methods underlying laser cooling of carbon atoms, and is the first step toward new applications of cold atoms, such as probing the evolution of matter in the universe.

Your impression & future plan
I want to thank Mr. Wakasugi, one of the co-author, for his great contribution to this paper. I couldn't get this award without his contribution. Moreover, I'll keep doing my best.