ICEPP THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

Professor Toshinori Mori
MEG Experiment, ILC Project

To verify the grand unification of the elementary particles and forces believed to have occurred in the early Universe (supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories (GUTs)), this research lab is leading the MEG international joint experiment, conducted at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), investigating muon decay that is not possible under the Standard Model of elementary particle physics. The MEG experiment has drawn a lot of attention from all around the world, as it is the only experiment capable of researching the decay branching ratios predicted by ultra-high energy physics such as the GUTs or seesaw theory of neutrinos. My role as the primary investigator and spokesperson responsible for the entire international research group is to lead these important physics researches through a successful execution of the MEG experiment. We are currently preparing for MEG II, a further evolution of the MEG experiment. Our goal is to raise experimental sensitivity 10-fold and observe signs of new physics.
Furthermore, as the Japanese representative of the International Committee for Future Accelerator (ICFA) and chairperson of the Japan Association of High Energy Physicists (JAHEP), I look more than a decade into the future to consider and formulate next-generation core plans for global investigation at energy frontiers. I will continue to work on the ILC Project in these international committees and do my utmost to bring about its successful implementation in Japan.

Research lab website

Associate Professor Wataru Ootani
MEG Experiment, ILC Project

The research interest of our lab is in experimental particle physics with particle accelerator aiming at elucidating the ultimate laws of the Universe. We actively engage in research activities as well as dedicating ourselves to educating students to be experimental physicists with various expertise for detector R&D and physics analysis.
There are two primary research projects in our lab. The first is the MEG experiment in search for μ→eγ with the world's highest sensitivity, which would be a definitive evidence of new physics such as supersymmetric grand unified theory if discovered. The second is the International Linear Collider (ILC), which is a next-generation international project with an electron-positron linear collider.
As the physical analysis coordinator of the MEG experiment, I have led physics analysis and achieved an unprecedented search sensitivity which is thirty times higher than the previous experiment. We are currently leading the development and construction of detectors for the upgraded experiment MEG II with much higher sensitivity. The MEG II experiment is to start soon, having high expectations for the discovery of new physics beyond the standard model.
For the ILC Project, We are working hard for the realization of the Project, focusing primarily on the development of high-granularity calorimeters based on a novel concept for the ILC detector (ILD).

Research lab website

Associate Professor Ryu Sawada
ATLAS Experiment, Quantum AI

We participate in the ATLAS experiment at CERN and aim to discover new particles, especially candidates for dark matter predicted by supersymmetry theory. In addition to operating the ATLAS Regional Analysis Center, I also conduct research with the goal of improving computation performance for the high-luminosity LHC.
In our search for new particles, we have focused our attention on models that extend the lives of new particles. Our research lab focuses on applying state-of-the-art technologies such as machine learning and quantum computing to elementary particle physics. We hope to develop triggers using machine learning-based software and improve our ability to search for new particles. We are also researching quantum algorithms that can be applied to elementary particle research and developing computation methods for implementing them in actual quantum computers.
Combining creativity and data analysis technologies will be essential for achieving advances in this innovative research. We support the efforts of those with a desire to learn and apply state-of-the-art computing technologies to make new physics discoveries.

Research lab website

Project Associate Professor Taikan Suehara
ILC Project, Quantum AI

New experiments and new technologies are essential for new discoveries. The biggest focus of my research is to realize a Higgs Factory, a next-generation large-scale collider project, by contributing physics and detector studies utilizing state-of-the-art technologies of deep learning and instrumentation.
Higgs Factories will measure the Higgs boson discovered at the LHC in 2013 in great details, paving the way for the elucidation of unknown new particles and the structure of spacetime. Several Higgs factory projects are competing for realization around the world, among which we are eager to realize the ILC project, which is gathering global effort from all over the world to establish the facility in Japan.
A deep learning algorithm called Transformer, which is the basis of ChatGPT, etc., is revealing great possibility of completing a lot more complicated tasks than before by increasing training data size and complexity of the networks by many orders of magnitudes. I aim to apply this to particle physics, which leads to a challenge of developing a universal "brain" doing various essential tasks for particle physics with single network, like humans. Higgs factories, whose detectors have much higher resolution to detailed structure of the particle phenomena than those of past experiments, should be good playgrounds for such an endeavor.
I look forward to working with you with passion to "pave the way" in our new laboratory!

Associate Professor Nobuyuki Yoshioka
Quantum AI

As both quantum and classical information technologies evolve at an astounding pace, the path to uncharted quantum simulations is now opening before us. The ultimate goal of our research is to fully understand and control the universal behavior of quantum many-body systems.
One of our focuses is quantum computing for scientific discovery; we work on a wide range of fields such as the development of quantum algorithms, both for near-term and long-term, and large-scale simulations using actual quantum devices. We are also pioneering the cutting-edge application of machine learning techniques to simulate quantum many-body systems.
To drive such research forward, constructive collaborations are essential?bringing together individuals with a wide array of skills, from physicists brimming with scientific curiosity to engineers pushing the boundaries of technology. We are eagerly looking forward to meeting like-minded colleagues who will join us in exploring the unexplored world of quantum.

Researcher's website