Research projects in the Lab
Quest for out-of-equilibrium laws of physics through liquid crystal experiments
Direct observation of 3D dynamics of topological defect lines
We observed topological defects of liquid crystal by confocal microscopy and captured their characteristic topological events, in particular, reconnections.
(to appear)
Ising dynamic scaling laws in liquid crystal
We inspected universal dynamic scaling laws of Model A, which rule ordering processes of, e.g., Ising ferromagnets, by liquid crystal. (to appear)
KPZ universal fluctuations in growing turbulent interfaces
Growing interfaces turned out to be ruled by universal laws linked to various areas of physics and mathematics.
Universal critical phenomenon discovered in topological-defect turbulence
All up once you have entered... The directed percolation universality class, theoretically expected in such a situation, was experimentally found for the first time.
Physics of active matter
Designing topological edge states in bacterial active matter
Using microfabricated geometric structures, we realized topological edge states in collective motion of bacteria. Topological nature was captured by theoretical modelling. (to appear)
Route to turbulence of bacterial suspension
We unveiled the route to turbulence of collective motion of bacteria, combining experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches. (to appear)
Emergence of bacterial glass
We discovered that proliferating bacterial populations spontaneously undergo a transition from an active fluid phase to an active glass. (to appear)
Bacterial colony growth and topological defects
We discovered an overlooked role of topological defects in the three-dimensional growth of bacterial colonies. (to appear)
Emergent order in bacterial collective motion
How and when can any order emerge in usually turbulent dense bacterial collective motion? Our experimental findings led to a general framework.
Collective motion of self-propelled colloidal particles
By using active colloids fuelled by an electric field, we explore universal non-equilibrium laws in self-propelled particle systems.
Physical experiments on microbial systems
Extensive microperfusion system (EMPS) for bacterial population experiments
With this new microfluidic device, we can culture and observe bacteria for long time under a uniform condition. Several projects on bacterial populations are ongoing with this device.
Smectic bundle formation of planktonic bacteria upon nutrient starvation
Triggering stravation to planktonic bacteria by EMPS, we found they spontaneously form bundles with smectic ordering. (to appear)
Scale invariance in cell size fluctuations
With EMPS, we experimentally found universal scaling laws in cell size fluctuations.
(to appear)
Out-of-equilibrium phenomena in macroscopic soft matter systems
Jamming of a spongy granular system
We propose a new model system of largely deformable grains, where we discovered a novel fluid-amorphous transition. (to appear)
Statistical characterization of large chaotic systems
Time-series analysis for measuring instability of large chaotic systems
We develop a new method of time-series analysis for measuring instability of large chaotic systems, applicable when the system is highly symmetric.
(to appear)
New developments on instability analysis
Using Lyapunov vectors that became numerically accessible recently, we characterized collective instability and effective dimensions of large chaotic systems.
