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Condensed Matter Theory Lab
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A theory lab that uses statistical mechanics to explore soft matter such as liquid crystals and the glass transition.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring phenomena in nonequilibrium, complex, and disordered systems through theory
The Condensed Matter Theory Lab studies various phenomena seen in nonequilibrium, complex, and disordered systems, using theory based on statistical mechanics and computer simulations.
Professor Fukuda mainly studies soft condensed matter (soft matter), centered on liquid crystals, and Lecturer Matsui mainly studies the glass transition and supercooled liquids.
The research introduction also includes theoretical studies in sociophysics, which deals with economic phenomena.
Key terms
- soft matter
- A general term for soft condensed matter such as liquid crystals and polymers
- topological defect
- A point or line disturbance that appears where the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules cannot connect smoothly
- glass transition
- A phenomenon in which a liquid, when cooled, does not crystallize but becomes a glass in which motion is extremely slow
NewsLab news
A paper by Professor Fukuda and colleagues was published in Physical Review E
Assistant Professor Mitsusuke Tarama received the 19th Young Scientist Award of the Physical Society of Japan (Division 12)
A paper by Professor Fukuda and colleagues was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
ResearchResearch themes
The Condensed Matter Theory Lab investigates phenomena seen in nonequilibrium, complex, and disordered systems, using theory based on statistical mechanics and computer simulations. The research introduction presents theoretical studies of soft matter, numerical and theoretical studies of the glass transition and supercooled liquids, and theoretical studies of sociophysics.
*Illustrative imageOrdered structures and dynamics of liquid crystals
The lab investigates the ordered structures and the motion that liquid crystals show under various conditions, using numerical calculations based on continuum theory. Targeting systems such as cholesteric blue phases and liquid crystals containing colloidal particles, it focuses on the structure of topological defects.
*Illustrative imageOptical properties of ordered structures in soft matter
Soft matter often spontaneously forms structures with periods comparable to the wavelength of visible light. The lab works on the properties of such structures when viewed as photonic crystals, and on how they appear under a microscope.
*Illustrative imagePhase separation and orientational order in polymer solutions
Starting from a model of semiflexible polymer chains with bending elasticity, the lab derived the free energy and equations of motion for the concentration field and the orientational order field using field theory. It then investigated how phase separation and the growth of orientational order are coupled in polymer solutions.
*Illustrative imageDrag coefficient of a colloid near a critical point
When a binary mixture very close to its critical point is in contact with the surface of a colloidal particle, one component is strongly adsorbed. Using local renormalized functional theory, the lab calculated the drag coefficient and reproduced results close to experiments regarding its dependence on the correlation length far from the particle (the bulk correlation length).
MembersFaculty
The members of the Condensed Matter Theory Lab are faculty and students in the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs.As of 2025
- ProfessorJun-ichi Fukuda
- LecturerJun Matsui
- Assistant ProfessorMitsusuke Tarama
- Associate Professor (Research and Development Center for Information Infrastructure)Yuji Higuchi
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Growing crystals in liquid glass” AgrisR / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Ordered structures and dynamics of liquid crystals: “Nematic liquid crystal” Ingo Dierking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Optical properties of ordered structures in soft matter: “Core-Shell Liquid Crystals” Aecohen64 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Phase separation and orientational order in polymer solutions: “Ubbelohde viscometer polymer solution experiment running” Vis M / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Drag coefficient of a colloid near a critical point: “SEM Image of Colloidal Particles” Yasrena / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fundamental Complex Matter Lab): “Moscow State University granular material” Artyom Svetlov / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Complex Living Matter Lab): “Biophysics Lab ( )” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Magnetic Physics Lab): “Eu2O3.powder” Materialscientist at en.wiki / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Experimental Particle Physics Lab): “CMS Higgs-event” Lucas Taylor / CERN / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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