Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.
Professor Hirofumi Sakai Receives the 2023 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Prizes for Science and Technology (Research Category)
Norikatsu Mio (Director, Institute for Photon Science and Technology, Professor)
Professor Hirofumi Sakai at Institute for Photon Science and Technology (Department of Physics) has received the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Prizes for Science and Technology (Research Category) for fiscal year 2023.
Professor Hirofumi Sakai
If we can align the orientation of gas molecules, which are usually oriented randomly, we can directly clarify the alignment- and orientation-dependent nature of various phenomena that occur in the interaction of laser light and molecules. Since aligned and oriented molecular ensembles are ideal research samples for stereodynamic studies of chemical reactions and intramolecular electron stereodynamics, the development of versatile methods that can achieve high alignment and orientation has long been desired. Professor Sakai has consistently conducted world-leading research on the control of orientation of gas molecules. Starting with one-dimensional orientation control, he has recently developed an orientation control technique that satisfies the three conditions of high alignment, no laser electric field, and three-dimensional orientation control. Furthermore, he is working on the advancement of all-optical orientation control using only a non-resonant two-wavelength laser electric field. The realization of such highly oriented molecular ensembles is a research achievement with great impact, as it is expected to broaden the scope of fundamental research on molecular behavior, advance research on the dynamics of chemical reactions, and develop applications to molecular devices. We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Professor Sakai on receiving this award and wish him continued success in his endeavors.
In addition, Associate Professor Yoshinori Gongyo and Associate Professor Yoshiki Oshima, both of Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences and Department of Mathematics, and Associate Professor Shinya Takamaeda, of Graduate School of Information Science and Technology and Department of Information Science, received the Young Scientists' Prize from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Faculty of Science News May 2023