To all 3rd-year students at Yokohama National University [Regarding Laboratory Assignment for the 2026 Academic Year]
Our group conducts theoretical research on the quantum physics of light at Yokohama National University.
Theoretical physics can be studied anytime, anywhere, by anyone. While we gather at the university 2-3 times a week for seminars and the like, you are free to progress with your research at your own pace, and you are welcome to conduct your research from home.
As your seniors, we expect to have 2-3 first-year master's students, 4 second-year master's students, and 2 doctoral students enrolled.
For the atmosphere of the laboratory, please take a look at the note on this account summarized below.
Laboratory visits and questions
On December 16 (Tue), 19 (Fri), 23 (Tue), and January 9 (Fri), 13 (Tue) from 12:00 to 13:00, your seniors will be in General Research Building W706, so please do not hesitate to come and ask about the laboratory. We will have some light refreshments, such as sandwiches, available.
Before and after those times, we hold seminars and reading groups. You are welcome to enter and leave in the middle to observe the atmosphere.
I, Bamba, am in General Research Building W703. Please feel free to come and ask questions whenever you like. For questions or appointments via email, please contact bamba-motoaki-pc@ynu.ac.jp.
Research Content
We would like to conduct research together, focusing on a phenomenon called "superradiant phase transition" that occurs due to the interaction between light and matter. Please watch the following videos (totaling over 30 minutes) to see what kind of research it is.
If you prefer to read it as text, please see this article in the academist Journal.
In addition, I think the videos and explanations on this page will also be helpful.
What kind of laboratory is it?
Using methods from theoretical physics, we aim to discover and elucidate uncharted phenomena that arise from the interaction between light and matter.
We will provide you with an iPad Air/Pro and a laptop for your research. We use Python for numerical calculations. We use AWS (Amazon Web Services) for large-scale calculations.
We hold a seminar and a reading group (book study) once a week each. In principle, they are held in person, but if there are people who cannot make it, we will conduct them in a hybrid format. To see what the seminars and such are like, please come visit General Research Building W706 during the dates and times mentioned above, or take a look at this note .
In the spring semester, all 4th-year students will participate in a reading group (book study) for the textbook below. In the fall semester, after introducing papers related to their individual research themes, students will review their graduation thesis abstracts and practice their presentations.
Outside of seminars and reading groups, the style is for you to study and conduct research on your own while meeting with Bamba and 1-3 seniors about 1-2 times a week. You can ask your seniors to teach you things you don't understand.
A look at theoretical research (using student T as an example)
Examples of research themes
Quantum computers and other systems, stabilizing and building innovative frameworks for
Exploring new energy conversion phenomena, such as generating laser light directly from thermal energy
Space-based H2O masers, reproducing them on Earth
Elucidating the mechanisms of phenomena where chemical reaction rates and other properties change simply by placing them in a resonator (without light irradiation)
Designing various resonators
Analyzing joint experiments with research groups in the U.S. and elsewhere
machine learning (deep learning, Bayesian inference) - Developing spectral analysis methods using
quantum algorithms and protocols - Devising
Educational Policy
While I have research themes like those above in mind, I would like to think of themes from scratch with you as much as possible. I encourage students to cultivate the attitude and ability to engage with their themes proactively. I also provide guidance to ensure students always consider the background and motivation (why are we conducting this research?).
Career Paths After Graduation
To date, 8 students have advanced to our university's graduate school (5 via special selection, 3 via general selection), 3 to the University of Tokyo Graduate School, 1 to the Tokyo Institute of Technology Graduate School, 1 to the National Institute of Polar Research, and 1 has entered the workforce (including those scheduled for this fiscal year). All students who wished to advance to graduate school were accepted into their first-choice programs.
As for our university's graduate school, in addition to the Physics Engineering Education field in the Graduate School of Engineering Science, you can continue your research in this group by advancing to the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Advanced Practical Studies. Please see the information below regarding graduate school advancement, but since the relationship between the Graduate School of Engineering Science and the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Advanced Practical Studies is a bit complex, please come to the lab visit on the date mentioned above, talk to senior students, or ask Baba directly.
Internships become active from the first year of the master's program. Your seniors have successfully balanced them with their research activities.
Typical career paths include technical development positions at domestic and international manufacturers, various industries requiring programming and data processing/analysis skills, IT consulting, technical consulting, and think tanks.
After obtaining their master's degrees, your seniors are scheduled to work at companies such as NTT docomo, EPSON, and actuarial-related firms.
Regarding career paths after obtaining a master's degree, whether your research was theoretical or experimental does not matter much during job hunting.
I also support students advancing to the doctoral program. online study sessions on student support policies and careers and support science communication activities such as experimental workshops for parents and children.
Regarding career paths after obtaining a doctoral degree, your specialization becomes relevant, but physics engineering research is closely linked to industry, allowing you to build a career with better compensation than those with only a master's degree. Recently, there have also been an increasing number of cases where graduates are active in fields different from their student-era specialization.
In the Physics Engineering program at Yokohama National University, the number of students advancing to the doctoral program, including those from outside the university, has increased rapidly in recent years. networking events with doctoral students are also held, so please feel free to attend if you are interested. You can talk to doctoral students from each laboratory.
For those who wish to start a business, I will support you by introducing various acquaintances. Those who wish to pursue research in academia are also welcome.
Inquiries
I am located in General Research Building W703. Please feel free to come by whenever you like. For questions or appointments via email, please contact bamba-motoaki-pc@ynu.ac.jp.
I hold seminars and reading groups around the dates and times mentioned above. You are welcome to enter or leave during the sessions to observe them.
Materials
The materials from the laboratory assignment briefing session are available from the link below (scheduled to be uploaded at a later date).