Sessions

Session 1. Cooperativity in Biological Functions

Biological functions often exhibit the property of cooperativity. Resonance and oscillation of dynamic biomolecular structures, as well as the flow of electrons, play an essentially role in determining biological functionality. The development of novel technologies is expected for understanding the emergence of biological functions and their underlying mechanisms, including non-linear optics, bio-imaging, spectroscopy and photo-activation. In this session, emergence of biological functions and cutting-edge technologies will be discussed, together with their properties and dynamics for the future of life science.

Session 2. Harmonization Phenomena in Functional Materials

Harmonization in functional materials plays an important role in functionality. For example, in a superconducting state, a Cooper pair, which is a pair of electrons, can move through the crystal lattice without resistance. In π-conjugation systems, two different electronic states are energetically similar. Furthermore, higher-order functions through cooperative organization are often observed in bio-molecules. In this session, harmonization phenomena in materials including high-Tc superconductors, low-dimensional carbons and bio-motors, will be discussed, together with their physical properties and dynamics for the materials science.

Session 3: Oscillating Interfaces and Ensemble Phase Motions for Smart Materials

Oscillating liquid droplets and the motion of general phase regions present abstract frameworks for describing contemporary topics related to the design of functional materials used in the creation of novel devices. Experimental observations of droplet motions, and of ensemble Vapor-Liquid-Solid phase interactions in the growth of nano-wires, are expected to be explainable by inhomogeneity in contact energies. The immersed boundary method and threshold dynamics are mathematical techniques for analyzing and simulating the ideal motions of such phenomena. In this session, experimentation and theoretical approaches join hands for investigating these classes of highly nonlinear motions, which occupy the frontier of application via the design of nano-scale smart materials.

Session 4. Oscillation and Resonance in Photonics and Optical Science

Oscillation and resonance are associated with electromagnetic waves and their interactions with materials in photonics and optical science. Resonance is a phenomenon oscillating with greater amplitude when the system undergoes perturbation at specific frequencies. In the natural world, photosynthesis proceeds via resonance energy and electron transfer from chlorophyll antennae to the reaction center. In physics, light-matter coupling processes result in various kinds of resonant states, such as strong exciton-photon coupling. In this session, advanced studies related to light-matter interactions and their resonance pursued by X-ray spectroscopy, photoemission spectroscopy, time-resolved femtosecond laser micro/nanoscopy, and related techniques will be presented together with perspectives for photonics and optical science.

Session 5. Toward the Development of New Collaborative Activities

The Nikon Imaging Center at Hokkaido University (NIC@HU) was established as a center for biological microscopy for use by all researchers throughout Japan on November 1st, 2005. NIC@HU was established in cooperation with many corporations, including Nikon Instech Co., Ltd. The comprehensive support for nanoanalysis and nanofabrication of the Nanotechnology Platform Project at Hokkaido University (sponsored by MEXT) via the provision of the required state-of-the-art equipment, microstructure characterization expertise, data analysis and other services is established for scientific innovation. In this session, we will discuss recent research and potential of the NIC and our project to develop new collaborative activities.