About Us

Purpose of Center

The mission of this center is to promote research on the control of quantum materials and their ordered phases, and on the quantum-mechanical Berry phase of conduction electrons in these materials. Thus, we construct guiding principles for the rational design of a new generation of electronic devices, contributing to the sustainable society of the future. In the development of such technological assets, and the novel functionality enabling them, we crucially rely on integrating quantum materials research with information science and quantum technology. The center also fosters up-and-coming talents to lead science and technology in the coming decades.

Brief History

The Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC), which belongs to the School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, was founded in April 2001 in order to develop the results of the COE program "Phase Control of Spin-Charge-Photon Coupled Systems (SCP)" (Head: Prof. Kenjiro Miyano, 1996-2002). Core members of the SCP project were from the Department of Applied Physics. Results of the SCP project include the discovery of the photon-induced metal-insulator transition, understanding of the relationship between the metal-insulator transition and the mechanism of superconductivity, discovery of the "orbiton" excitation and the discovery of ultrafast photon control. These results demonstrate a new engineering field, which is connected to the next generation electronics beyond conventional semiconductor electronics. Since the activity of the SCP project was evaluated to have worldwide impact, a new COE program "Strongly-Correlated Engineering" was accepted in July 2003, and QPEC was a central base which supported the Strongly-Correlated Engineering program. And also, Global Center of Excellence for Physical Sciences Frontier has been accepted in July 2008, QPEC supports this program.

Overview

Configuration of Center