Laboratories
Digital Materials Team
Franco NORI
Team Leader
Franco NORI (Ph.D.)
mail

Research Areas

We perform research work in theoretical condensed matter physics, including quantum information processing, computational physics, transport phenomena (e.g., of vortices, electrons, grains), energy-conversion and solar energy, as well as the dynamics of complex systems. Our research work is interdisciplinary and also explores the interface between atomic physics, quantum optics, nano-science, and computing. We are also studying artificial photosynthesis, light-to-electricity conversion, nano-mechanics, hybrid quantum electro-mechanical systems, quantum nano-electronics, and quantum emulators. Particular emphasis is being placed on superconducting Josephson-junction qubits, scalable quantum circuitry, and improved designs for their quantum control. An underlying theme of our work is to better understand nano-scale quantum systems and devise methods to control them. We use physical models to make predictions that can be tested experimentally and that can be used to better understand the observed phenomena.

Research Subject

  1. Condensed matter physics; Computational physics; Complex systems
  2. Quantum computing. Quantum information processing.
  3. Superconducting qubits. Artificial atoms.
  4. Interface between atomic physics, quantum optics, and condensed matter physics.
  5. Vortex dynamics in superconductors

Related links

  1. RIKEN Advanced Science Institute Website_Laboratories PageNew Window
  2. Individual Website Laboratory PageNew Window
  3. Researcher PageNew Window

Press release

October 02, 2009
Quantum Simulators: One system to simulate another

RIKEN RESEARCH

December 17, 2010
Quantum or not?
Mathematical equations can now resolve whether electron transport in nanostructures follows classical or quantum mechanical behaviorNew Window
July 23, 2010
A trick of the light
Unusual properties predicted in superconducting thin films could deliver perfect lenses and other novel applicationsNew Window
March 05, 2010
The geometry of randomness
Geometric factors can have a strong influence on the seemingly random walk of objects across pores in a thin membraneNew Window
January 08, 2010
Emulation for understanding
Controllable quantum systems that allow us to better understand complex physical processes are now within reachNew Window
October 02, 2009
Forecasting solar-energy harvests
Photosynthetic processes in an -artificial system can be described accurately by a quantum physical theoryNew Window
August 18, 2006
New ways to control terahertz waves
Layered superconductors could slow, amplify or focus elusive raysNew Window
July 05, 2006
The shifting currents of superconductors
Odd oscillations revealed in simulationsNew Window
June 30, 2006
Noisy whirlpools ousted to improve magnetic sensitivity
A technique that moves troublesome whirlpools of current in superconductors could help to boost the performance of these materials.New Window

List of Selected Publications

  1. Savel'ev, S., Yampol'skii, V.A., Rakhmanov, A.L.,and Nori, F.:
    "Terahertz Josephson plasma waves in layered superconductors: spectrum, generation, nonlinear, and quantum phenomena."
    Rep. Prog. Phys. 73, 026501 (2010)
  2. Buluta, I.,and Nori, F.:
    "Quantum Simulators."
    Science 326, 108 (2009)
  3. Johansson, J.R., Johansson, G., Wilson, C.M.,and Nori, F.:
    "The dynamical Casimir effect in a superconducting coplanar waveguide."
    Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 147003 (2009)
  4. Ghosh, P.K., Smirnov, A.Y.,and Nori, F.:
    "Modelling light-driven proton pumps in artificial photosynthetic reaction centers."
    J. Chem. Phys. 131, 035102 (2009)
  5. You, J.Q., Liu, Y.X., and Nori, F.:
    "Simultaneous cooling of an artificial atom and its neighboring quantum system."
    Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 047001 (2008).
  6. Savel'ev, S., Rakhmanov, A.L., Hu, X., Kasumov, A., and Nori, F.:
    "Quantum electromechanics: Quantum tunneling near resonance and qubits from buckling nanoscale bars."
    Phys. Rev. B 75, 165417 (2007).
  7. Liu, Y.X., Wei, L.F., Tsai, J.S., and Nori, F.:
    "Controllable coupling between flux qubits."
    Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 067003 (2006).
  8. Savel'ev, S., Rakhmanov, A.L., Yampol'skii, V.A., and Nori, F.:
    "Analogues of nonlinear optics using terahertz Josephson plasma waves in layered superconductors."
    Nature Physics 2, 521-525 (2006)
  9. Cole, D., Bending, S., Savel'ev, S., Grigorenko, A., Tamegai, T., and Nori, F.:
    "Ratchet without spatial asymmetry: Controlling the motion of magnetic flux quanta using time-asymmetric drives."
    Nature Materials 5, 305-311 (2006).
  10. You, J.Q., and Nori, F.:
    "Superconducting circuits and quantum information."
    Phys.Today 58 (11), 42 (2005).

Members

Principal Investigator

Franco NORI
Team Leader

Postdoctoral Fellow

Yukihiro OTA
Special Postdoctoral Researcher
Cui WEI
Foreign Postdoctoral Researcher
Neill Wooldridge LAMBERT
Contract Researcher
Johny Robert JOHANSSON
Visiting Researcher
Pulak Kumar GHOSH
Visiting Researcher
Georgios GIAVARAS
Visiting Researcher
Natsuko ISHIDA
Visiting Researcher
Xinyou LU
Visiting Researcher

Student Trainee

Zeliang XIANG
International Program Associate

Administrative Assistant

Ai SATO
Assistant

Visiting Research Staff

Sahel Shafiq Salim ASHHAB
Visiting Scientist