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Komiya-Kanda Lab
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A lab that uses light to observe microscale heat and mass movement and to control heat transfer.
AboutAbout the lab
Using light to see microscale heat movement.
The Komiya-Kanda Lab studies heat and mass transfer in extreme environments such as high-temperature fields, outer space, and the inside of micromachines.
Using optical techniques, it visualizes and measures heat and mass transfer in a tiny world that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
The lab applies what it learns to energy systems with a low environmental impact and to enhancing heat transfer by using phase change.
It also works on controlling heat transfer inside living bodies, as in hyperthermia and cryotherapy.
Key terms
- Phase-shift interferometer
- A device that uses light interference to measure concentration and temperature distributions with high precision.
- Natural convection
- Flow caused by differences in fluid density. Examples are the flow in a bowl of miso soup and the smoke rising from incense.
- Elastocaloric effect
- A phenomenon in which rubber releases heat and rises in temperature when stretched quickly, and absorbs heat and drops in temperature when it contracts quickly.
NewsLab news
Prof. Komiya received an Excellent Presentation Award at ExHFT-11
A student received an Outstanding Presentation Award at the National Heat Transfer Symposium of Japan
Prof. Komiya received the Academic Award from the Heat Transfer Society of Japan
A master's student received an Outstanding Presentation Award at the National Heat Transfer Symposium of Japan
A master's student received an Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at the Young Researchers Ensemble Workshop
ResearchResearch themes
The lab investigates heat and mass transfer in extreme environments and in the micro- and nanoscale world, visualizing it with optical measurement. Its subjects range from protein crystal growth to home insulation materials and cooling devices that use rubber.
*Illustrative imageControlling protein diffusion
Investigating the function of a protein requires structural analysis of a high-quality single crystal. Because mass diffusion occurs near the interface during crystal growth, the lab visualizes the diffusion field with a phase-shift interferometer and examines how porous membranes, electrostatic force, and temperature distribution affect the speed of diffusion.
*Illustrative imageVisualizing the mechanisms of convection
Natural convection, which arises from density differences as in a bowl of miso soup, resonates when temperature fluctuations at its natural frequency are applied. Using a 1 m tall heated plate and a large phase-shift interferometer, the lab visualizes fluctuations in the thermal boundary layer, and also examines the effect of thermal radiation on Marangoni convection.
*Illustrative imageMeasuring the thermal properties of insulation materials
The lower the thermal conductivity of an insulation material, the higher the measurement accuracy required, so the lab is working to establish high-precision measurement techniques using a small guarded hot plate (GHP) apparatus and a vacuum chamber. It is also developing an emissivity measurement device for evaluating 3D-printed parts.
*Illustrative imageBuilding cooling devices that use rubber
When a rubber band is stretched quickly, its temperature rises, and when it is released quickly, its temperature falls. Using this elastocaloric effect, it is possible to build cooling devices that do not use environmentally harmful substances as refrigerants. The lab evaluates how heat escaping from the device affects cooling efficiency.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Komiya-Kanda Lab are faculty, academic researchers, joint researchers, technical staff, technical assistants, research assistants, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorAtsuki Komiya
- Assistant ProfessorYuki Kanda
VoicesStudent voices
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Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Komiya-Kanda Lab
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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: “PIN FIN HEAT TRANSFER EXPERIMENT - DPLA - 97be4754f4a04324eb4f79b1ca4a3e76” National Aeronautics and Space Administration. John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field. 3/1/1999 / Public domain (cropped)
- Controlling protein diffusion: “CSIRO ScienceImage 418 XRay Crystallography Protein Crystals” division, CSIRO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Visualizing the mechanisms of convection: “ConvectionVerticalPlate2” Harke / Public domain (cropped)
- Measuring the thermal properties of insulation materials: “Removable Insulation Blanket” Christopher Vella / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Building cooling devices that use rubber: “Rubber bands - Colors - Studio photo 2011” Bill Ebbesen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biwa Lab): “Flame-tube-resonance-overlay” MikeRun / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Shoji Lab): “150 deg water contact angle” Plasmatreat Khoren / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ohara Lab): “Unit Cell of Liquid Water” Cnrowley / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (SURBLYS Lab): “Simulated structure of the water hexane interface” Cnrowley / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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