TOPICS

Takashi Sakamoto (D1), Department of Applied Physics, received Student Presentation Award of the Physical Society of Japan


On 9th April 2022, Takashi Sakamoto (D1), Department of Applied Physics, received The 77th Annual Meeting (2022) Student Presentation Award of the Physical Society of Japan.

fig1
The 77th Annual Meeting (2022) Student Presentation Award of the Physical Society of Japan
Recognize graduate and undergraduate students who have delivered outstanding presentations at a JPS meeting.

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 am honored to receive this prestigious award and deeply grateful to Associate Professor Kosuke Yoshioka for his guidance and encouragement since the beginning of my research.
I will continue to enjoy my activities and aim to make greater contributions to my research field.