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2021/11/02

Award

Professor Kenji Ohmori is awarded the National Medal with Purple Ribbon by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

Professor Kenji Ohmori is awarded a national honor, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan for his achievements on quantum physics. The Medal with Purple Ribbon is awarded for inventions and discoveries in science and technology, and for outstanding achievements in the fields of science, sports, art and culture.

Professor Ohmori, in the field of quantum physics, has developed a revolutionary method in which the relative oscillation timing of two laser electric fields is controlled with attosecond precision, and imprinted on the wave functions of matter to control their interference almost perfectly. He has applied this method to various phases of matter including atoms, molecules, solids and artificial crystal of ultracold atoms cooled down to temperatures close to absolute zero, making significant contributions to the advancement of the relevant fields of science. These achievements have been highly appreciated, leading to the nation’s Medal with Purple Ribbon this time.

Professor Ohmori says, “It is my great honor to receive the medal with proud history and glory. I am deeply grateful to the professors who have educated me, and to my great colleagues including assistant professors, technicians, postdoctoral researchers, students and secretaries of Ohmori group, who have been pushing our research forward together. With this honor, I will continue my best effort to better understand the mysterious quantum world, and will extend my better understanding to the development of quantum simulators and computers”. Professor Ohmori is currently leading a large-scale/long-term project on the development of ultrafast quantum computers (2018-2028) generously supported with priority by the MEXT and Cabinet Office of the government of Japan1),2), expected as one of the top runners in the development of quantum technologies to further promote its progress.

1) MEXT Q-LEAP “Development of cold-atom based quantum simulators by optical control with precisions on the attosecond temporal and nanometer spatial scales and their applications to quantum computing” (Project Leader: Kenji Ohmori).
2) Cabinet Office PRISM “Sophistication of ultrafast/high-performance cold-atom quantum simulators/computers” (Project Leader: Kenji Ohmori).

Short Bio of Professor Kenji Ohmori
Education
1987 Graduated from Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
1992 Ph. D, The University of Tokyo

Appointment
1992 Research Associate, Tohoku University
2001 Associate Professor, Tohoku University
2003 Full Professor, Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
2003 Full Professor, SOKENDAI (the Graduate University for Advanced Studies)
2007-2010 Director, Laser Research Center for Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science
2010–present Chairman, Department of Photo-Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science
2015-present Vice Chair, Committee for Quantum Science and Technology Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan
2019 Expert Member, Integrated Innovation Strategy Promotion Council, Innovation Promotion Office, Cabinet Secretariat of Japan

Awards and Honors
1998 Award by Research Foundation for Opto-Science and Technology
2007 JSPS Prize
2007 Japan Academy Medal
2008 Norman Hascoe Distinguished Lecturer, University of Connecticut, USA
2009 Fellow of the American Physical Society
2012 Humboldt Research Award
2017 Hiroshi Takuma Memorial Prize of Matsuo Foundation
2018 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
2021 National Medal with Purple Ribbon

Related Links
Lecture video
Ultrafast quantum simulator with attosecond precision at ultracold temperatures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvVTxIM991A

Ohmori Group
https://groups.ims.ac.jp/organization/ohmori_g/index-e.html