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Okimoto Lab
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The lab uses light to observe and control the properties of polar materials such as ferroelectrics.
AboutAbout the lab
Seeing and controlling the properties of polar materials with light.
The Okimoto Lab studies the properties of various polar materials using nonlinear optical methods with laser light.
It focuses in particular on new ferroelectric materials, in which the direction of the crystal's polarity can be switched by an electric field.
Beyond probing their properties with laser light, the lab also takes on the challenge of controlling new ferroelectric functions with light.
Ferroelectrics are materials used in memory devices and piezoelectric elements.
Key terms
- Ferroelectric
- A substance with a bias of positive and negative charge (polarity) inside the crystal, whose direction can be switched by applying an external electric field.
- Second harmonic generation (SHG)
- A phenomenon in which light with half the wavelength of the incident light is emitted from a material. It occurs in crystals without inversion symmetry, such as polar crystals.
- Terahertz light
- Light with a frequency between infrared and radio waves. It is also called far-infrared light.
NewsLab news
Joint research by Assistant Professor Ishikawa and others published in Phys. Rev. Lett.
International joint research by Assistant Professor Ishikawa and others published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
Review article by Assistant Professor Ishikawa published in the journal Bunko Kenkyu (Spectroscopy Research)
Joint research by Associate Professor Okimoto and others published in Phys. Rev. Lett.
Paper by a doctoral student selected as a JPSJ Editor's Choice
ResearchResearch themes
Focusing on new ferroelectric materials whose development has progressed in recent years, the lab investigates their polar structures using a nonlinear optical effect (second harmonic generation). It also works on controlling new ferroelectric functions with light.
*Illustrative imagePolar Structure of an Iron Complex Oxide
In joint research with Okayama University, the lab found that an iron complex oxide (YbFe2O4) exhibits SHG and clarified its crystal symmetry. This is considered one piece of evidence that the material is an electronic ferroelectric.
*Illustrative imageEnhancing the Properties of an Organic Ferroelectric with Light
By irradiating an organic cocrystal that is ferroelectric at room temperature with an ultrashort mid-infrared light pulse, the lab observed a phenomenon in which the ferroelectricity appears to be enhanced only during the pulse. This is joint research with the Institute for Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo, and others.
*Illustrative imageControlling Polarity with Terahertz Light
By irradiating the cobalt oxide BiCoO3 with intense terahertz light pulses, the lab found that the SHG intensity increases. This is joint research with the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, and others.
MembersFaculty
Members of the Okimoto Lab include faculty, secretaries, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorYoichi OkimotoPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorTadahiko IshikawaPublications ↗
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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: “Ferroelectric domains at a PZT grain boundary ( )” Oak Ridge National Laboratory / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Polar Structure of an Iron Complex Oxide: “Optical Table with doubled Nd-YAG Laser - (1)” Giorgio Brida from Torino, Italy / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Enhancing the Properties of an Organic Ferroelectric with Light: “Chloranilic-acid-3D-balls” Jynto and Ben Mills / Public domain (cropped)
- Controlling Polarity with Terahertz Light: “Cobalt metal pieces” W. Oelen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (大島・山﨑研究室): “LOA1” Ecole polytechnique / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (前田研究室): “U.S. Department of Energy - Science - )” U.S. Department of Energy from United States / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (谷口研究室): “Sinistral x dextral Limicolaria martensiana” Jxd / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (八島研究室): “SPring- img pano” en:User:Artorius / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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