Call for Publicly Offered Research (old 2022-08-23)

Call for Publicly Offered Research (Kobo-Kenkyu)

MEXT -KAKENHI- Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A)　”Extreme Universe”

Period of Research: FY 2022-2023
Official Webpage in MEXT:
https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/hojyo/boshu/1394559_00004.htm

Details of Research Area

　Conventionally, physics has explained the laws of nature using time, space, and matter as its basic building blocks. However, in the extreme situations in nature (which we call the “extreme universe” in our area), due to the strong quantum nature of the target physical systems, the degrees of freedom of space, time, and matter themselves fluctuate enormously, and existing theoretical approaches in physics face difficulties in the following three limits: the “limit of space” (quantum theory of black holes), the “limit of time” (quantum theory of cosmology), and the “limit of matter” (dynamics of quantum matter). However, as soon as the field of quantum information emerged in the 21st century, this new way of looking at things began to bring dynamic changes to physics. For example, the extreme universe based on quantum gravity can be regarded as an accumulation of quantum information, while such accumulation of quantum information also provides a highly accurate numerical analysis method for quantum materials called tensor network. In addition to the limits of space, time, and matter, this research area aims to bring together researchers involved in the study of the "limit of information" (quantum information), and to promote interdisciplinary research beyond the boundaries of existing fields toward the ultimate laws of physics associated with the various problems in the extreme universe.
　The goals of Planned Research are as follows. In the limit of space, the quantum theory of black holes is to be clarified and verified by integrating the viewpoint of quantum information into the gauge-gravity correspondence (B01), ultra-cold atom experiments (B02), and the general relativity (B03). In the limit of time, we explore quantum theory of cosmology by introducing quantum information theoretic ideas into quantum gravity (C01), quantum Hall experiment (C02) and cosmology (C03). In the limit of matter, we aim to reveal the dynamics of quantum matter by incorporating the concept of quantum information into quantum field theory (D01) and quantum many-body problems (D02). In addition, A01 will promote theoretical research on quantum information, and bridge the latest progress in quantum information research to physics of the extreme universe. Another important objective of this area is to promote international research on the extreme universe in the light of quantum information, and to actively encourage young researchers. Through these efforts, we aim to realize the above research goals and to transform physics into a discipline suitable for the era of quantum information.

Call for Proposals and Expectations for Publicly Offered Research, etc.

　This research area brings together various researchers in the fields of quantum information and physics to study the quantum information and the extreme universe (quantum theory of black holes, quantum theory of cosmology, and dynamics of quantum matter). We also aim to create new research developments that are not limited to existing fields. In addition to the research projects related to the Research Group A01-D02, we expect theoretical and experimental research proposals complementary to Research Group or those covering multiple research topics above. For example, various researches on quantum information with potential applications to physics, application of tensor networks to particle theory, analysis of strongly correlated matter and non-equilibrium quantum systems by numerical calculations and gauge-gravity correspondence, numerical approaches to the general relativity, simulation using quantum computers, and so on. We also envision experiments on quantum many-body systems and qubit systems with high controllability, such as quantum optics and NMR, as well as new approaches through experiments and observations in the fields of elementary particles, atomic nuclei, and cosmology. In addition to the above, we expect novel ideas that connect quantum information and physics, and proposals for research that bridges theory and experiment. For details of each research topic, please refer to the website of this research area.
　The upper limit of annual budget is set at 1 million yen, 3 million yen, and 5 million yen per year, depending on the scale of the research. 1 million yen budget is mainly for theoretical research, 3 million yen one is for numerical calculations and experimental research, and 5 million yen one is for large-scale numerical calculations and experimental research.

Research Group, Upper Limit of Annual Budget and Number of research projects scheduled to be selected