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Gao-Sato (Ryo) Lab
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The lab studies ultra-precision measurement, measuring the motion and shape of objects at the nanometer scale.
AboutAbout the lab
Measuring and moving things in the nanometer world.
The Gao-Sato Lab studies ultra-precision measurement and control of the motion and shape of objects, which underpin next-generation manufacturing.
Its two pillars are ultra-precision sensors that measure the motion of objects, and ultra-precision control that moves objects.
The lab designs how to build sensors that use state-of-the-art lasers, and has recently also been working on ultra-precision sensors that incorporate machine learning.
Besides its experiment rooms, the lab has a constant-temperature room for operating ultra-precision measurement and machining equipment, and a workshop for making experimental apparatus.
Key terms
- Encoder
- A sensor that detects angle or displacement. It is used in precision positioning equipment to know where something is at the moment
- Autocollimation method
- A method in which a laser is shone on the object being measured and its tilt is determined from the light that returns
- Diffraction grating
- An optical component with fine grooves packed closely together. It splits incoming light in specific directions
NewsLab news
Assistant Professor Sato received the Young Scientist Award from the International Society for Nanomanufacturing
Assistant Professor Sato received the Inoue Research Encouragement Award from the Inoue Foundation for Science
Assistant Professor Sato received the Aoba Engineering Research Encouragement Award from the Aoba Foundation for the Promotion of Engineering
Assistant Professor Sato received the Advanced Best Presentation Award at the Spring Meeting of the Japan Society for Precision Engineering
ResearchResearch themes
In foundational industries such as precision measuring instruments and machine tools, positioning at the nanometer and even sub-nanometer level is required. The lab develops the ultra-precision laser sensors, shape measurement and machining systems, and micro/nano motion mechanisms that support this.
*Illustrative imageMulti-Degree-of-Freedom Sensors for Planar Stages
The lab develops an optical six-degree-of-freedom sensor that measures the position and orientation errors of a planar stage together with a single sensor head. It combines a displacement sensor based on diffracted-light interference with an angle sensor based on the autocollimation method.
*Illustrative imageThree-Axis Angle Sensor
Ultra-precision machine tools and semiconductor manufacturing equipment require sub-nanometer positioning accuracy. By combining laser autocollimation, which uses light diffracted by a diffraction grating, with detection of light-spot displacement by a quadrant photodiode, the sensor measures changes in roll, pitch, and yaw angles at high speed and with high sensitivity.
*Illustrative imageXYZ Three-Axis Surface Encoder
This optical displacement sensor can detect displacement along the X, Y, and Z axes together by making the light diffracted from two diffraction gratings interfere. In a prototype, a displacement detection resolution of 1 nm or less was confirmed on each of the X, Y, and Z axes.
*Illustrative imageFive-Degree-of-Freedom Surface Encoder
This planar encoder reads an angle grating with three optical two-dimensional angle sensors and can detect five degrees of freedom. From the outputs of two probes with multiple beams and one probe with a single thick beam, it detects displacement in five degrees of freedom simultaneously and at high speed.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Gao-Sato Lab consist of faculty and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorWei Gao
- Assistant ProfessorRyo Sato
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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: “Prototype Imaging Density Interferometer is on the Optical table in the foreground” notnef from Canberra, Australia / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Sensors for Planar Stages: “"Lines made with light" - diffraction gratings at the UK ATC ( )” Science and Technology Facilities Council / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Three-Axis Angle Sensor: “Diffraction of laser beam by grating” Epzcaw / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- XYZ Three-Axis Surface Encoder: “Diffraction grating surface” Scapha / Public domain (cropped)
- Five-Degree-of-Freedom Surface Encoder: “5C2A5953R - – Silicon Wafer 20200519” Rob Bulmahn / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Matsukuma Lab): “Femtosecond laser spark” Smirnov Semen / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Soyama-Nakai Lab): “Cavitating-prop” U.S. Navy / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Kanamori Lab): “Optical Therapeutics and Medical Nanophotonics Laboratory ( )” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Inomata Lab): “Photolithography lab in the LCN cleanroom” University College London Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
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