Special Invited Speech
Thursday August 21,
Prof. Kohzo Hakuta (The Univ. of Electro-Communications, Japan).
"Manipulating and Controlling Atoms and Photons Using Optical Nanofibers"


Abstract.
Manipulating atoms and photons is one of the key issues in modern quantum optics. Various ideas have been demonstrated so far in this context. Examples would include laser cooling and trapping, electromagnetically induced transparency, and cavity quantum-electrodynamics. In this talk, we discuss a novel method to manipulate and control atoms and photons using subwavelength-diameter silica-fibers, "optical nanofibers". We show how optical nanofibers can open new perspectives in quantum optics, such as modification of spontaneous emission, single-atom/photon manipulation, slowing down the light velocity, and thereby may open possible applications in quantum information technology.

Biography.
Kohzo Hakuta received the B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees in applied physics from the University of Tokyo, in 1969, 1971, and 1974, respectively. In 1983, he joined the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, as an associate professor of applied physics, becoming a professor 1991. From 1988 to 1989, he worked in the University of Toronto, Department of Physics, as a visiting professor. His research interests are on basic processes of light and matter interaction, especially, quantum optics, nonlinear optics, and laser spectroscopy. He is the first who demonstrated the electromagnetically induced transparency using atomic hydrogen. From 1997 to 2002, he served as the project leader of a CREST project "Quantum Solid and Nonlinear Optics: New Perspectives in Optical Physics" conducted by Japan Government. From 2003 to 2008, he also served as the program leader of 21st century center of excellence project "Innovation in Coherent Optical Science" by Japan Government.