The primary focus of our research is to challenge problems in fundamental physics, such as beyond the Standard Model, experimentally using ultra-cold particles.

Project 1) Measurement of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron.

(Collaborative work with TRIUMF) Measurement of an EDM of fundamental particles is a key observation to go beyond the standard-model, as the standard-model value of the EDM is immeasurably small. Therefore, any evidence for an EDM would signify the observation of new physics. We will tackle this problem by observing the electric dipole moment (nEDM) of the neutron. We will develop a ultra-sensitive co-magnetometer for the observation of extremely small nEDM, and apply it to ultra-cold neutron (UCN) produced by a new UCN beam line at TRIUMF.

Project 2) Cold and ultracold molecules.

Research on cold (1 mK) and ultra-cold (< 1micro K) molecules are now one of the key research fields in atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) science, after the success of ultra-cold atom research. With ultracold molecules, we can challenge problems in fundamental physics without using high-energy accelerators etc. but just using table-top systems. We are now building "molecular decelerators" in our laboratory to make and trap ultra-cold molecules. We will use the trapped ultra-cold molecules for the study of fundamental physics, such as the measurement of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron, as well as its application to quantum computation and coherent manupulation. (Supported by CRUCS: Canadian Centre for Ultra-Cold Systems)

Project 3) Astronomical observation of molecules in interstellar space.

We use radio-telescopes around the world to find new molecules in interstellar space. The main focus is to understand the origin of chrality, and the origin of life.