Chief Scientist Laboratories Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics Laboratory

Chief Scientist: Toshiyuki Azuma (D.Eng.)

Japanese Page

Research Summary

We experimentally study wide-ranged physical processes; cold chemical reaction relevant to universe evolution, dynamics of large complex molecules, atom interaction with crystals, from new methods and view points of atomic, molecular and optical physics. We recently have started development of a compact electrostatic ion storage ring dedicated for investigating molecular collisions and dynamics. Low-energy collisions and reactions of cold molecular ions in the specific vibrational and rotational states prepared by the ring is our primary mission to be explored. We have recently a new project to perform merging experiments by combining atomic and molecular beams with an intense ultra-short intense laser. We have also been trying manipulation of high-energy heavy atomic ions by the crystal periodic fields, which is expected to be a new tool for spectroscopy and manipulation of heavy ions in the energy region from EUV to X-rays.

Main Research Fields

Physics

Related Research Fields

Chemistry
Space Science

Research Subjects

Atomic, and molecular collisions using an electrostatic ion storage ring
Exploring atomic, molecular, and photonic physics utilizing rthe advanced photon sources
Resonant coherent excitation of fast highly charged ions

Selected Publications

1.Kono N., Furukawa T., Tanuma H., Matsumoto J., Shiromaru H., Azuma T., Najafian K., Pettersson M. S., Dynefors B., Hansen K.:
“Inverse internal conversion in C₄^- below electron detachment threshold”
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 17, 24732 (2015).
2.Nakano Y., Nakai Y., Komaki K., Takada E., Murakami T., and Azuma T.:
“Metastable Ar¹⁷⁺ (2S) production by Stark-assisted resonant coherent excitation”
J. Phys. B 48, 144026 (2015).
3.Ito, G., Furukawa, T., Tanuma, H., Matsumoto, J., Shiromaru, H., Majima,T., Goto, M., Azuma, T., and Hansen, K.:
"Cooling dynamics of photo-excited C_6- and C₆H_-"
Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 183001 (2014).
4.Najafian, K., Pettersson, M.S., Dynefors, B., Shiromaru, H., Matsumoto, J., Tanuma, H., Furukawa, Azuma, T., Hansen, K.:
"Radiative cooling of C_7-"
J. Chem. Phys. 140, 104311 (2014).
5.Goto M., Sundén, A.E.K., Shiromaru, H., Matsumoto, J., Tanuma, H., Azuma, T., and Hansen K.:
"Direct observation of internal energy distributions of C_5-"
J. Chem. Phys. 139, 054306 (2013).
6.Goto, M., Matsumoto, J., Shiromaru, H., Achiba, Y., Majima, T., Tanuma, H., Azuma, T.:
"Laser-induced thermal detachment of hot, large molecular ions under multi-photon absorption conditions",
Phys. Rev. A 87, 033406 (2013).
7.Nakano, Y., Takano, Y., Ikeda, T., Kanai, Y., Suda, S., Azuma, T., Bräuning, H., Bräuning-Demian, A., Stöhlker, Th., Dauvergne, D., and Yamazaki, Y.:
"Resonant Coherent Excitation of Li-like Uranium in a Silicon Crystal"
Phys. Rev. A (Rapid Comm.) 87, 060501R (2013).
8.Nakano, Y., Suda, S., Hatakeyama, A., Nakai, Y., Komaki, K., Yamazaki, Y., Takada, E., and Murakami, T., and Azuma, T.:
"Selective production of the doubly excited 2p2 (1D) state in He-like Ar16+ ions by resonant coherent excitation."
Phys. Rev. A 85, 020701 (Rapid Comm) (2012).
9.Sundén, A. E. K., Goto, M., Matsumoto, J., Shiromaru, H., Tanuma, H., Azuma, T., Andersen, J. U., Canton, S. E., and Hansen, K.:
"Absolute Cooling Rates of Freely Decaying Fullerenes."
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 143001 (2009).
10.Nakano, Y., Kondo, C., Hatakeyama, A., Nakai, Y., Azuma, T., Komaki, K., Yamazaki, Y., Takada, E., and Murakami, T.:
"Polarization Control in Three-dimensional Resonant Coherent Excitation."
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 085502 (2009).

Recent Research Results

Feb. 9, 2024
Helium droplets capture double water structure
Oct. 2, 2023
Quantum electrodynamics passes high-field test

Annual research report

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Toshiyuki Azuma: Chief Scientist

Core members

Susumu Kuma: Senior Research Scientist
Masafumi Jo: Senior Research Scientist
Mizuo Maeda: Research Scientist
Naoki Kimura: Research Scientist
Kiattichart Chartkunchand: Postdoctoral Researcher
Sakumi Harayama: Junior Research Associate
Arisa Iguchi: Student Trainee
Takuma Okumura: Visiting Scientist
Shinji Okada: Visiting Scientist
Yuji Nakano: Visiting Scientist
Tadashi Hashimoto: Visiting Scientist
Shinya Yamada: Visiting Scientist
Takahiro Teramoto: Visiting Scientist
Masaaki Baba: Research Consultant
Kyoko Okuma: Administrative Part-time Worker I
Yuki Fukushima: Administrative Part-time Worker I
Mamiko Tonegawa: Administrative Part-time Worker I
Masumi Furumoto: Administrative Part-time Worker II

Contact Information

2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
Email: toshiyuki-azuma [at] riken.jp