Placement Information
Year you started your placement
Placement period
May – August, September – December
Supervisor’s name
Professor Ryo Shimano
Project Details
Overview
Since the discovery of superconductors at the beginning of the 20th century, much work has been done to fully understand their nature. Researchers and engineers dream of room-temperature superconductivity, which will be beneficial in many applications. The Shimano Lab at the University of Tokyo focuses on using terahertz radiation to investigate the properties of superconductors.
Project objectives
The goal of my project was to detect Third Harmonic Generation in the Iron-based superconductor FeSe_{0.5}Te_{0.5}. Using a laser with a given frequency, this is done by directing the laser through the sample and detecting three times the input frequency.
Research outcomes
Project status
Completed
My Co-op Experience at MPI/ UTokyo
Why did you apply for this placement?
I applied to the MPI-UBC-UTokyo program because I had been considering pursuing post-graduate studies and wanted to experience research in physics. Of course, I could have applied to labs at my local university, but I wanted to immerse myself in a new culture as well. Tokyo is a wonderful city, and Japan is a country full of rich history and stunning landscapes. Combined with internationally regarded research from the University of Tokyo, I joined the program and have had an amazing time doing so.
What recommendations do you have for students who wish to participate in this exchange program?
I recommend looking into the different professors and labs that have open positions and trying to understand what each one does. Choosing one that most aligns with what you have studied and are interested in will greatly benefit you. As an undergraduate, no matter what research topic you join, there will likely be a huge amount of literature which you won’t understand. Regardless of how much you know before you begin, it will be a great experience which you will learn lots from.
Tell us about your travels and cultural experiences
At the end of August, I went to Mount Fuji which is about an hour outside of Tokyo. Catching a bus in the afternoon, I hiked up the mountain all night. Despite the huge crowds, the views from the summit were stunning; at 3700 metres, all of the mountains in the surrounding valleys looked like hills. In September, I took a week-long vacation to Hokkaido. Known for its beautiful nature and amazing cuisine, I was not disappointed; from hiking along volcanic craters, to watching the sunrise in a small ocean town, to eating the freshest seafood I've ever had, Hokkaido was one of the highlights of time in Japan.
The top of Mt. Fuji, the highest peak in Japan
Local trains on the way to work
