press2018.12.20

Control the high speed motion of "magnetic wall" with voltage
- pave a way for high performance magnetic memory -

Jun'ichi Ieda
R.G.for Spin-energy transformation Science

Researchers in U. Tokyo, UEC, and JAEA succeeded in the controlling the high speed motion of a magnetic domain wall (DW) by voltage application. The technology to drive the DW at a higher speed is indispensable for improving the performance of the magnetic memory. To this end, applying voltages to the magnet is a promissing method with high energy efficiency but previous reports were limited to the extremely slow speed operation of 1 mm/sec or less. In this research, it was demonstrated that the DW speed in the region exceeding 100 m/sec is shifted by the voltage. The success in a practical speed region for a memory device is the first time and it opens a way to realize a "race track memory" expected as the ultimate storage memory with high speed, large capacity, high durability.
More details are shown here.

press2018.12.4

Superconductivity and magnetic fluctuations
-Strong correlation between ferromagnetic fluctuations and pressure-induced superconductivity-

Naoyuki Tateiwa
Research Group for Heavy Element Materials Physics

We find the strong correlation between ferromagnetic fluctuations and pressure-induced superconductivity in uranium ferromagnetic superconductor UGe2. It has considered that the ferromagnetism and the superconductivity compete with each other. However, the coexistence of both phases has been discovered in several uranium compound. We show that the ferromagnetic fluctuations enhanced under high pressure may take an important role for the superconductivity. We hope that this study contributes to further developments for a complete understanding of the superconductivity.
More details are shown here.

press2018.8.31

Observation of disappearance of angular momentum of electron in magnet by rotating the magnet at high speed
-Toward searching for materials for high-speed magnetic devices with the disappearance of angular momentum-

Masaki IMAI
R.G.for Spin-energy transformation Science

Researchers in JAEA and RIKEN have developed a versatile angular momentum measuring apparatus to observe the temperature dependent spin of electrons (angular momentum) by rotating the sample at high speed. Moreover, they investigated the magnitude of angular momentum using this apparatus, and observed that the angular momentum disappears with a specific magnetic material. The magnetic reversal process and the angular momentum are closely related, and the magnetic reversal speed is accelerated when the angular momentum is small. By measuring the angular momentum of various materials with this apparatus, it is expected to search for materials for the next generation high speed magnetic devices.
More details are shown here.

press2018.3.29

Giant Faraday rotation in metal-fluoride nano-granular films
- Discovery of the magneto-optical effect dreamed since 1972 -

Sadamichi MAEKAWA
Bo GU(Spin-energy Transformation Science)

JAEA has discovered a new magneto-optical material, (Fe,FeCo)-(Al-, Y-fluoride) nano-granular films exhibiting giant Faraday effect, 40 times larger than that of Bi-YIG, which has been used for optical communications since 1972. These newly discovered material will contribute greatly to the miniaturization and integration of optical devices.
More details are shown here.

ASRC Video2018.3.19

The Advanced Science Research Center

Every March, the American Physical Society (APS) produces a number of short movies showcasing world-leading international research institutes. The Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at JAEA was selected as one of the institutes to be portrayed in 2018. The video on ASRC was released in March, and can be found here.

press2018.1.11

Superconductivity surviving in high magnetic field
-Clarifying the mechanism of the superconductivity which can survive in high magnetic field appeared in uranium compound -

Taisuke HATTORI
Materials Physics for Havy Element Systems

JAEA has succeeded to clarify the mechanism of superconductivity in uranium compound URu₂Si₂ using JAEA facility; why the superconductivity of this compound can survive under the extremely high magnetic field. So far, experimental resolusion has not been enough due to the difficulty of treating the nuclear fuel material. This result can lead development of more useful superconducting magnet.
More details are shown here.

press2018.1.10

Spin Current Noise of the Spin Seebeck Effect and Spin Pumping
-A new method toward high efficiency spin current generation-

Yuichi OHNUMA, Sadamichi MAEKAWA
Spin-energy transformation Science

A theory of spin current noise has been constructed in a normal-metal/ ferromagnet bilayer systems. The theory is applied to estimate heat in the spin pumping by micro-waves. It may also be used to obtain high efficiency spin current generation technology.
More details are shown here.

press2018.1.9

Surprising Result Shocks Scientists Studying Spin
- Findings on how differently sized nuclei respond to spin offer new insight into mechanisms affecting particle production in proton-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)-

Kiyoshi TANIDA
Hadron nuclear physics

Scientists at Japan Atomic Energy Agency, RIKEN, and Brookhaven National Laboratory shocked by results of spinning protons striking different sized atomic nuclei at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Neutrons produced when a spinning proton collides with another proton come out with a slight rightward-skew preference.
But when the spinning proton collides with a much larger gold nucleus, the neutrons' directional preference becomes larger and switches to the left.
The scientists will execute a new series of experiments colliding polarized protons with other kinds of nuclei to study the electromagnetic interaction effect.
More details are shown here.

press2017.9.23

Direct observation of orbital ordering using scanning tunneling microscopy
- Novel phenomena realized at the surface of matter -

Yoshinori HAGA
Materials Physics for Heavy Element Systems

ISSP, University of Tokyo and JAEA have found an ordering of electron orbitals at the surface of a heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5. By using the highly stabilized scanning tunneling microscopy, they succeeded to directly observe the orbital ordering in real space for the first time.

press2017.8.18

Spin current generation in Cu by acoustic wave injection
- towards magnetic devices without rare metals and magnet -

Mamoru MATSUO etc
Spin-energy Transformation Science

Keio University, Tohoku University, and JAEA succeded in generating "spin current", the flow of magnets by injecting Rayleigh wave into copper. This result is expected to make a significant contribution as a high performance, power saving, and inexpensive rare metal free technology of magnetic devices, which are widely installed in portable information terminals such as smart phones.
More details are shown here.

press2017.8.10

Experiments using einsteinium isotope, element 99
- First experiments under the Japan-US collaboration -

Katsuhisa NISHIO etc
Heavy Element Nuclear Science

JAEA will obtain einsteinium isotope ²⁵⁴Es (element 99) from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Using the experiemntal setups developed by JAEA in the tandem facility and the SPring-8, experiments such as fission mechanism and hydration structure are planned.

press2016.9.28

One-dimensional spinon spin currents

Sadamichi Maekawa etc

Spinons behave as a Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid at low energy, and the spin system is often called a quantum spin chain. Here we show that a quantum spin chain generates and carries spin current, which is attributed to spinon spin current.
More details are shown here.

press2016.9.28

Optically Transparent Ferromagnetic Nanogranular Films with Tunable Transmittance

Sadamichi Maekawa etc

Developing optically transparent magnets at room temperature is an important challenge. They would bring many innovations to various industries, not only for electronic and magnetic devices but also for optical applications. Here we introduce FeCo-(Al-fluoride) nanogranular films exhibiting ferromagnetic properties with high optical transparency in the visible light region.
More details are shown here.

press2016.9.13

Symmetry breaking in atomic coordinates of germanene

Yuki Fukaya etc
Research Group for Nanoscale Structure and Function of Advanced Materials

We have determined the structure of germanene, germanium version of graphene, on an aluminum substrate using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD) method. The present study revealed that germanene has an asymmetric structure.
More details are shown here.

press2016.8.26

Establishing a new method to take nuclear fission data
- Opening a new region for fission research -

Katsuhisa Nishio etc
Research Group for Heavy Element Nuclear Science

A new method to obtain fission fragment mass distributions using multi-nucleon transfer reactions was established, which generates data for more than fourteen nuclei at once including neutron-rich nuclei not investigated so far. A fluctuation-dissipation model successfuly explains the measured data.
More details are shown here.

press2016.5.10

New technology for migration control of cesium from forests to living area. Regeneration of village forests by using natural force with polymers and clay. Evolving verification tests in Iitate village, etc., Fukushima. Expectation for prevention of recontamination of living area.

Hirochika Naganawa etc
Research Group for Interfacial reaction-field chemistry

In order to gently regenerate village forests without destroying forest ecosystem, a new technology for migration control of radioactive cesium has been developed. By scattering bentonite that adsorbs cesium on slope grounds covered by leaf soil, the uptake of cesium to plants is suppressed. The bentonite adsorbing cesium is transferred by rainwater flow and then captured by interpolyelectrolyte complex (self-assembly of polyelectrolytes having opposite charge by electrostatic interaction).
Patent-pending

press2016.3.14

Large-scale nuclear-structure calculation for constraining the masses of neutrinos using the K supercomputer

Yutaka Utsuno etc
Research Group for Heavy Element Nuclear Science

On the basis of large-scale nuclear-structure calculations using the K supercomputer, the most reliable value of the nuclear matrix element for neutrinoless ββ decay in Ca-48 is provided by a collaboration group among the University of Tokyo, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and other institutes. This data will strongly narrow the range of neutrino masses when the neutrinoless ββ decay in Ca-48 is observed.
More details are shown here.

press2016.3.7

Interface structure between graphene and metal substrate revealed by total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD)

Yuki Fukaya etc
Research Group for Nanoscale Structure and Function of Advanced Materials

Collaborative research team of JAEA and KEK experimentally verified using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD) that the spacing between graphene and metal substrate depends on the substrate material.
More details are shown here.

press2016.2.24

Surface structure determination of TiO2 photocatalyst using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD)

Yuki Fukaya etc
Research Group for Nanoscale Structure and Function of Advanced Materials

Collaborative research team of KEK, Hokkaido University, and JAEA experimentally determined the surface structure of TiO2 photocatalyst using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD)
More details are shown here.

explain2015.12.2

Our research got featured in News&Views of Nature Physics and Nature Materials.

Spin-energy Transformation Science

Our latest research achievement "Electrical generation from quantum mechanical spinning motion in a liquid metal", press released on November 03, 2015, was featured in News&Views of Nature Physics and Nature Materials.
Nature Materials
Nature Physics

press2015.11.25

Nuclear charge symmetry breaking by a "strange particle" observed at J-PARC Hadron Experimental Facility

Hiroyuki SAKO etc
Research Group for Hadron Nuclear Physics

An international collaboration led by Tohoku University, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) found fundamental symmetry called "charge symmetry" is broken by adding a "strange" particle, Lambda, to a nucleus in an experiment at J-PARC Hadron Experimental Facility.
More details are shown here.

press2015.11.6

Strong Suppression of the Spin Hall Effect in the Spin Glass State

Sadamichi MAEKAWA etc

In spin glass metals, where localized moments are polarized in random directions, the relative dynamics between the localized moment and the conduction electron spin is successfully probed by the spin Hall effect. Such spin dynamics is very difficult to be detected even by the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), the most sensitive magnetometer at the present stage. Such technique can be applied to develop the highly sensitive magnetic sensors.
More details are shown here.

press2015.11.3

Electrical generation from quantum mechanical spinning motion in a liquid metal

Mamoru MATSUO etc
Spin-energy Transformation Science

The team found a new method of power generation by using electron spinning motion in a liquid metal via the quantum mechanical coupling between electron and fluid vorticity. The result can be used as an electric generator and a spin generator in, e.g., micro-electromechanical system free from magnetic fields.
More details are shown here.

press2015.9.28

Development of synthesis process of novel composite nanotubes using ion irradiation technique

Hidehito Asaoka etc
Research Coordination and Promotion Office

We have succeeded the development of synthesis process of novel composite nanotubes, which are consisted of different crystal states or new microstructures, using ion irradiation technique.
More details are shown here.

press2015.5.18

Observation of giant spin-Hall effect mediated by quasiparticles in a superconductor

Sadamichi Maekawa etc
Research Group for Spin-Energy Transformation Science

・First demonstration of the spin-Hall effect in a superconductor. ・More than 2000 times enhancement of the effect has been achieved compared to the normal conductor case. ・This finding opens the door to next-generation spintronics devices such as a "spin-meter" that magnifies and detects tiny spin signals.
More details are shown here.

press2015.5.15

Novel mechanism of superconductivity induced by strong magnetic field

Yo TOKUNAGA
R.G. for Materials Physics for Heavy Element Systems

Reentrant superconducitivity has been discovered in uranium based compound URhG under strong magnetic fields. We have revealed the noevel mechansim of this exotic phenomenon by means of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique.
More details are shown here.

press2015.4.9

Measurement of the first ionization potential of lawrencium (element 103) - Unravelling Relativistic Effects in the Heaviest Actinide Element -

Tetsuya　K. Sato et al.
R. G. of Heavy Element Nuclear Science

We report that the experimentally obtained the first ionization potencial of the heaviest actinide, lawrencium (Lr, atomic number 103), is 4.96 eV. The value was measured with Lr-256 (half-life 27 seconds) using an efficient surface ion-source and a radioisotope detection system coupled to a mass separator at the JAEA tandem accelerator. The measured ionization potencial is in excellent agreement with the value predicted here by state-of-the-art relativistic calculations.
More details are shown here.

press2015.3.12

The Newest Nuclear Decay Data in Hands – Completion of a comprehensive portable nuclear decay data map, “JAEA Chart of the Nuclides 2014” –

Hiroyuki KOURA etc
R.G. for Reactions Involving Heavy Nuclei

We have constructed a folding (A4-size) nuclear chart, “JAEA Chart of the Nuclides 2014,” including the latest experimental (3,150 points) and theoretical (1,578 points) decay data for nuclear science experts and the general public.

press2015.1.8

Discovery of a novel principle of generating spin currents from insulators under light illumination

Sadamichi MAEKAWA etc
Research Group for Condensed Matter Theory

A conversion of light energy into spin currents in magnetic insulators is demonstrated for the first time with the aid of "surface plasmon", a collective excitation of electrons in metal nanoparticles under light illumination.
More details are shown here.

press2014.12.19

Transformation between electric- and spin-currents in metals

Sadamichi MAEKAWA etc
Research Group for Condensed Matter Theory

We have theoretically shown that electron-electron correlation is necessary to reproduce the experimental results of the spin Hall effect in Ir-doped Cu.
More details are shown here.

press2014.12.12

Change of heat current by magnetic field: Possibility of heat control by magnet

Sadamichi MAEKAWA etc
Research Group for Condensed Matter Theory

Concerning the phonon Hall effect, it has not been clarified the mechanism why a heat current is changed by a magnetic field. We theoretically show that this effect is due to resonant skew scattering of phonons from a tiny amout of magentic impurities.
More details are shown here.

press2014.12.2

Observation of colossal thermomagnetic response due to superconducting fluctuation

Yoshinori HAGA etc
R.G. for Actinide Materials Science

Thermomagnetic effect was investigated on an ultra-clean single crystal of a uranium superconductor URu₂Si₂. Colossal thermomagnetic response a million times larger than the theoretical prediction has successfully been detected. This observation proofs the superconducting fluctuation in this material.
More details are shown here.

press2014.11.14

Efficient method developed for radioactive cesium recovery from sewage sludge ashes

Naofumi Kozai etc
Research Group for Bioactinideｓ　Chemistry

We have revealed the chemical states of radioactive cesium in the sewage sludge ashes produced after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident and have succeeded in recovering more than 90 % of radioactive cesium in the ashes by pre-pulverizing the ashes to particles less than 1 µm and heating them in acid solutions.
More details are shown here.

press2014.9.22

Mottled electrons condensation induced by magnetic field. -Development of heavy element new materials controlled by magnetic field-

Shinsaku KAMBE etc
R.G. for condensed matter physics of heavy element systems

Mottled electronic state is found in an Yb-based compound around a magnetic field induced quantum critical phase transition at low temperatures.
More details are shown here.

press2014.9.19

Succesfully synthesis and detection of a Seaborgium (element 106) carbonyl complex - Seaborgium shows a typical chemical property of the group six in the periodic table of the elements -

Masato Asai etc
Research Group for the Superheavy Elements

For the first time, a chemical bond was established between a superheavy element – seaborgium (element 106) in the present study – and a carbon atom by an international collaboration with research groups from Univ. Mainz, GSI and RIKEN. Seaborgium were converted into seaborgium hexacarbonyl complexes. Its gaseous properties and adsorption to a silicon dioxide surface were studied, and compared with similar compounds of neighbors of seaborgium in the same group of the periodic table.
More details are shown here.

press2014.8.7

Development of a Novel Spectroscopic Technique to Observe Synergy Effect of Water with Radiation in the DNA Damage Processes

Akinari Yokoya, Ph.D. etc
Research Group for Radiation and Biomolecular Science

We have developed an novel spectroscopic technique, using high brilliant X-rays provided by SPring-8, to study synergy effect of radiation and water on the processes of DNA damage induced by radiation.
More details are shown here.

press2014.7.22

Succses in developing a nanoglanuler material that shows giant dielectric and magnetoelectric responses at room temperature - Creation of a new multifanctional material -

Sadamichi MAEKAWA etc
 

The newly developmed material is a thin-film dielectric material consists of metal and insulator phases, in which nano-magnetic particles have been dispersed in a inslator matrix. This so-called nanogranular material shows giant dielectric and magnetoelectric responses at room temperature.
More details are shown here.

press2014.6.27

New phenomenon of magnetism in uranium ferromagnetic superconductors : To solve the mechanism for the co-existence of the magnetism and superconductivity

Naoyuki Tateiwa etc
Research group for actinide material science

We have found new phenomenon of magnetism in uranium ferromagnetic superconductors UGe2 and URhGe where the ferromagnetism and superconductivity co-exist.
More details are shown here.

press2014.6.19

Direct observation of the 'hidden order': a longstanding mystery in solid state physics

Yoshinori HAGA etc
R.G. for Actinide Material Science

Deformation of the crystal lattice was detected in the hidden-order phase of URu₂Si₂ by using an ultra high-resolution crystallography with synchrotron radiation at SPring-8.
More details are shown here.

press2014.6.12

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of uranium compound URu2Si2 by the world's strongest magnetic field

Hironori Sakai etc
Research Group for Condensed Matter Physics of Heavy Element Systems

An unknown magnetic structure in uranium compound URu₂Si₂ induced by high field over 35 tesla, has been determined by means of nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The experiment was performed using the world's strongest magnetic field in National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) in Tallahasee, USA.
More details are shown here.

press2014.5.26

New human eyes for seeing thorough materials -Development on non-destructive light elemental analysis for extraterrestrial materials using a muon beam-

Wataru Higemoto etc
R.G. for condensed matter physics of heavy element systems

By using the most intense pulsed muon beam at J-PARC MUSE(MUon Science Establishment), we successfully demonstrate a depth-profile analysis of light elements (B, C, N, and O) from several mm-thick layered materials and non-destructive bulk analyses of meteorites containing organic materials.
More details are shown here.

press2014.5.21

Success in observation of nucler spin controled by rotation

Hiroyuki CHUDO etc
R.G. for Spin Manipulation and Material Design by Combining Spintronics and High-Speed Rotation Technique

We have developed a unique conceptual measurement system of nucler spin of materials in rotoational speed of 10000 times per 1second based on nuclear magnetic resonance method.
More details are shown here.

prize2014.4.15

Total reflection positron diffraction and its applications to surface study

Atsuo Kawasuso etc
Group Leader of spin-polarized positon beam research group

2014, Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Kawasuso, Group Leader, and his colaborators received the above award.

press2014.4.21

Improvement of total reflection positron diffraction realized ultimate surface structure analysis

Atsuo Kawasuso etc
Spin-polarized positon beam research group

We improved the total reflection positron diffraction method by enhancing the brightness of positron beam at KEK slow positon facility.
More details are shown here.

press2014.4.18

DNA damage affects normal chromosomes in a living cell - A step in advance for the radiobiologicall effect-

Ayumi Urushibara, Ph.D. etc
Post doctrral fellow of JAEA (Present position: Visiting Scientist of Osaka prefecture Univ.)

We found that radiation damage to DNA could affect non-irradiated normal chromosomes to induce genetic instability. This project has been perfomed by collaboration with Prof. Seiji Kodama in Osaka prefectrue univ. (Pregident: Taketoshi Okuno)
More details are shown here.

prize2014.4.17

20th gold medal prize, "discovery of electric spin curent fandamentals"

 
 

This prize is one of the prestigious prize in Science for Japanese scientist. Yomiuri Tchno Forum selects luminary scientists 3 or so per a year.
More details are shown here.