Tohoku University Science Summer Program 2013

Lecture title Lecturer Outline Assignment

1

The 2011 Tohokuearthquake - Why did we failto anticipate the M9earthquake? -

Professor MATSUZAWAToru

Graduate School of ScienceResearch Center forPrediction of Earthquakes andVolcanic Eruptions

The M9 Tohoku earthquake on 11 March 2011 had a great impacton the seismologists all over the world. This is because Tohoku(northeastern Honshu, Japan) is located in one of the mostinvestigated plate subduction zones and the interplate coupling wasthought to be too weak to generate M9 earthquakes there. In thelecture, I explain an elementary seismology, what happened in thesource region of the M9 earthquake, and reasons why we failed toanticipate the event.

Select one of the followings and work on it.1) Search for epicenter maps for Japan and your country in the web. Ifyou cannot find any epicenter maps for your country, just search for aworld epicenter map. Then, compare the earthquake activities in Japanand your country and discuss the reasons why such differences and/orsimilarities between the two regions are caused.2) At present, we cannot predict earthquakes. Then what do you thinkseismologists can do for the mitigation of earthquake disaster?3) In Japan, a tsunami warning is issued by JMA (Japan MeteorologicalAgency) within several minutes after the occurrence of a largeearthquake. JMA was criticized for the underestimation of tsunamiheight in the warning for the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Some peopleinsist that overestimated tsunami height will be better for the tsunamiwarning than underestimated because no one will die even if the actualtsunami height is much lower than the forecast. Do you think this iscorrect? If not, discuss the problems in the overestimated forecasts.

2

Electric vehicle andits electric motors

Associate ProfessorNAKAMURA Kenji

Graduate School ofEngineeringDepartment of Electrical andCommunication EngineeringPower Systems EngineeringPower Electronics

Electric vehicles (EVs) are progressing rapidly in the world,especially in Japan. In this lecture, first, classifications of EVs willbe described. Next, kinds and features of electric motors used inEVs will be discussed. Finally, recent topics related to electricmotors will be introduced; one is the switched reluctance (SR)motor, which is expected to become the next generation motor; theother is the magnetic gear, which can increase/decrease speedwithout mechanical contact.

Answer the following questions about electric vehicles (EVs)1. What are the advantages of EVs over competing gasoline vehicles?2. What are the important problems that must be solved so that EVswill become popularized in the future?3. Describe the types and characteristics of electric motors used inEVs.

3

Robotics Professor KOSUGEKazuhiro

Graduate School ofEngineering, Department ofBioengineering and Robotics,Robotics,System Robotics

In this lecture, we are going to consider issues relating to human-robot coordination and interaction. First, robot helpers will beintroduced as examples of the human-robot coordination doing realtasks in cooperation with a human. Then, a dance partner robot isintroduced as a research platform for the human-robot interactionand several issues relating to it will be discussed based on theplatform. Finally, real world applications of the human-robotcoordination and interaction, such as PaDY (Parts/tools Delivery toYou robot), will be discussed.

Conduct research on this lecture topic.

4

Introduction toSpintronics

Professor OHNO Hideo

Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication

Spintronics is an emerging field that utilizes both spin and charge torealize new functions. I will discuss about the nonvolatile spintronicmemory as an example; its basic operating principle and how it canmake next generation VLSI’s “greener”.

Conduct research on this lecture topic.

5

Modern Physical ChemProfessor MORITA Akihiro

Department of ChemistryGraduate School of Science

Recent progress in physical chemistry will be introduced, includingremarkable advances in computational chemistry.

One of the most important aims of physical chemistry is to find out themechanisms (reasons) for observed behaviors of molecules. Forexample, the followings are some phenomena that physical chemistryhas to eludicate:* Some molecules are stable, while other are not. (H2 vs. He2)* Molecules have their own shapes. (H2O is triangle, CO2 is linear.)* CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas.* Phenolphtalein (pH indicator) turns red with base.

List some questions related to basic behavior of molecules, and try toanswer these questions if possible.

6

Computer Vision inRobotics

Professor HASHIMOTOKoichi

Graduate School ofInformation SciencesDepartment of SystemInformation SciencesIntelligent RoboticsIntelligent Control Systems

Vision is important for robots. The lecture will introduce basic ideasof computer vision, image processing, robot control and theirinteraction. Several topics on designing visual feedback systemsare also presented.

Conduct research on this lecture topic.

7

Neutrinos: existingeverywhere butmysterious particles!

Associate professor SHIRAIJunpei

Research Center for NeutrinoScience

We are living in a sea of neutrinos! However, we feelnothing about the existence of them, because they have no electriccharge and rarely interact with matter. Neutrinos are the second-most particles in number in the universe and closely related to thehistory of the universe from the very beginning. Recently greatprogress has been made in the studies of neutrinos and theircharacteristics are gradually understood. The lecture gives anintroduction of neutrinos and a cutting-edge experiment underway ina laboratory of Tohoku University in Kamioka mine.

Examine the background, qualities, and detection methods of neutrinos.

After the lecture: Describe what has been discovered,and what will be learned in the futureneutrino research. Also consolidate what you learned from the topicscovered in this class and their reactions to them.

8

Welcome to CarbonNanotube World

Professor SAITO Riichiro

Graduate School of Science

Carbon nanotube is a roll-up graphite atomic sheet into a cylinder.Since the diameter of nanotube is in nano-meter size, manyscientists investigate nanotube for 20 years up to now for manyapplications and physics. The subject of talk consists of (1) whynano-science is useful? (2) what is the secret of pentagonal rings ofcarbon atoms. (3) What are nanotubes and fullerenes? (4) How canwe use these materials? Welcome to carbon nanotube science!

（1）Not small numbers of finding in science are　happened accidentally,which is called serendipity. Understand the meaning and origin of "serendipity" and find in thehistory of science some typical examples of serendipity, especially forthe following points: original purpose, errors, finding and impact. Discuss why the serendipity is important.(2) Make a three dimensional molecular model of one of nano carbonmaterials such as C60 molecule, or nanotube with caps and any otherstructure by paper and glue. Explain how to make the model byshowing the results.

9

Genetic Engineeringand its Application inPlant Fields

Professor KUSANOTomonobu

Graduate School of LifeSciences

How DNA is identified as a genetic element and the flow of genomeinformation are described. After learning such basic knowledge,how ‘genetic engineering technique’ is introduced. Finally itsapplication in plant science fields is introduced.

Discuss your thoughts on Genetic engineering: its risk and benefit toour society.

This is the syllabus for lectures offered in TSSP 2013. Please work on the assignments below prior to your departure.