Kyoto University Bulletin 2008-2009

HISTORY

The Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP) was inaugurated in 1990 following the unification of two previously independent institutions, the Research Institute for Fundamental Physics of Kyoto University, founded in 1953, and the Research Institute for Theoretical Physics of Hiroshima University, founded in 1944. The newly joined Institute had been spread over two campuses for the first five years, until it was finally united in a new research building next to the Yukawa Hall in the autumn of 1995. Although it is fully associated with Kyoto University, the Institute's facilities are open to researchers in fundamental physics from other institutes and universities. These researchers participate in the general policy-making and administration of the Institute, which aims to be an international center in theoretical physics. Before describing the outline of the present institute, it is appropriate to give a brief history of the two former institutes.

The Research Institute for Fundamental Physics (abbreviated as RIFP) was established in 1953 in honor of Hideki Yukawa of Kyoto University, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1949. The President of Kyoto University had the idea of launching a commemorative hall in order to encourage the progress of natural sciences in Japan. Also, the Science Council of Japan unanimously resolved in 1950 to convey to the government its wish for a national project for the promotion of research in theoretical physics. Discussions were carried out among physicists all over the country to create a new institution along the lines of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Tokyo), the Niels Bohr Institute (Copenhagen), or the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton). In the meantime the plan for establishing the Yukawa Hall was in progress at Kyoto University, and the Hall was inaugurated in 1952. In the following year its function as an inter-university institute started under the new name of its official organization, the Research Institute for Fundamental Physics. Hideki Yukawa was appointed the first director, and he led the Institute until his retirement in 1970. RIFP comprised six research sections: Field Theory, Meson Theory, Theory of Nuclei, Theory of Condensed Matter, Nonlinear Physics, and Particle Astrophysics.

The Research Institute for Theoretical Physics, Hiroshima University (abbreviated as RITP) was established in 1944. The main objective of RITP was to study the foundations of the space-time picture in physics (wave geometry). The first staff of RITP consisted of theoretical physicists and geometricians, and the first director was Yoshitaka Mimura. On the 6th of August 1945, an atomic bomb exploded over the city of Hiroshima. The RITP instantaneously lost its building, two faculty members, and one member of the support staff. In 1948, after three years' reconstruction efforts, RITP moved to Takehara near Hiroshima. The site and the building were donated by Takehara City. RITP stayed there for 42 years, until it moved to Uji, a Kyoto suburb. Throughout its forty-six year history, RITP was the research center for gravity and related subjects in Japan. RITP comprised four research sections: the Theory of Gravitation, Field Theory, the Theory of Space-Time, and Cosmology.

NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS

Prof. Toshihide Maskawa, a former director of the Institute, received the Nobel Prize in physics for 2008, together with Prof. Makoto Kobayashi, "for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature," and with Prof. Yoichiro Nambu, a member of our international advisory committee, "for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics."

The awarding of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics brings the number of Japanese or Japanese-born Nobel laureates to 16. Among them to date, the field of physics outstrips the other categories with seven laureates. As for our Institute, we are particularly proud that two out of the seven laureates are former members of our Institute. We are determined afresh to maintain our Institute to be a world-leading center for theoretical physics.

ORGANIZATION

The Institute has 8 professors, 10 associate professors and 5 assistant professors as regular staff, and more than ten JSPS and Global COE post-doctoral fellows and other research fellows. The Institute also has graduate students, four on average in each grade of the two-year master course and the three-year doctor course, who belong to the Graduate School of Science in Kyoto University. The total number of the regular members exceeds fifty. Faculty members are in principle appointed for limited terms, i.e., 5-10 years for full and associate professors and 3-6 years for assistant professors. This system was introduced in order to promote the exchange of physicists among various institutions.

The research activities in the Institute may be roughly classified into seven fields: Field Theory, Particle Theory, Nuclear Theory, Astrophysics, Gravitation and Cosmology, Condensed-Matter Physics, and Advanced Statistical Dynamics. For administrative purposes, the members of the Institute are often classified into four large groups, namely Elementary Particle Theory, Nuclear Theory, Astrophysics and Cosmology, and Condensed Matter and Advanced Statistical Dynamics.

Important issues regarding the operation of the Institute, such as the nomination of regular staff and the screening of post-doctoral fellows, are reviewed by the Advisory Board, which advises the Director. The Board is headed by the Director, and is composed of 8 members from the Institute and 12 from outside. The Advisory Board also elects a candidate for the directorship, to be approved by the Executive Board. The general agenda of the Institute is also discussed by the Executive Board, a group composed of the staff members of the Institute and several members of Kyoto University.

The Institute is unique in that its facilities are open to all researchers in the field. Year-long and short-term research projects are proposed to the Institute by researchers inside or outside the Institute. Research meetings are frequently held for approved projects, meetings on both special topics and general problems. These meetings range in size from a few participants to a hundred or so people. In charge of these activities are 6 physicists working on particle and nuclear theory, 4 on condensed-matter theory and advanced statistical dynamics, and 2 on astrophysics and cosmology. They are elected from physicists outside the Institute. Together with the members of the Advisory Board and some selected staff of the Institute, they form the Committee on Research Projects. They also participate in discussions about how to operate the Institute in connection with various problems confronted by research workers in this country.

REGULAR FACULTY (2008)

Professors

EGUCHI, Tohru, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), String Theory, Mathematical Physics

HAYAKAWA, Hisao, D.Sc. (Kyushu Univ.), Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, Granular Physics

KUGO, Taichi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Particle Physics

OHNISHI, Akira, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Nuclear and Hadron Physics

SASAKI, Misao, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), General Relativity and Cosmology

SHIZUYA, Ken-ichi, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Theory of Elementary Particles

TANAKA, Takahiro

Gravitational Waves, Relativistic Cosmology

TOHYAMA, Takami, D.Eng. (Nagoya Univ.), Solid State Physics

Associate Professors:

FUKUSHIMA, Kenji, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo),

Nuclear-Hadron Physics, Theory of Strong Interaction

IZAWA, Ken-iti, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Theoretical Physics of Elementary Particles

KANADA-EN'YO, Yoshiko, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Nuclear Physics

KUNITOMO, Hiroshi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics

MURASE, Masatoshi, Phar.D. (Univ. of Tokyo), Biophysics

NAGATAKI, Shigehiro, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Astrophysics

ONOGI, Tetsuya, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Elementary Particle Physics

SASAKI, Ryu, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Theory of Elementary Particles

SASAKURA, Naoki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Elementary Particle Theory

TOTSUKA, Keisuke, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Condensed Matter Physics, Low-Dimensional Quantum Magnetism

Assistant Professors:

FUJITA, Yuko, D. Agr. (Kyoto Univ.)

JIDO, Daisuke, D.Sc. (Tokyo Inst. Tech.), Theoretical Nuclear and Hadron Physics

MORINARI, Takao, D.Eng. (Univ. of Tokyo), Condensed Matter Theory - Strongly Correlated Electron Systems

TERASHIMA, Seiji, Ph.D. in Sc. (Univ. of Tsukuba), Theory of Elementary Particles

WADA, Hirofumi, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo),

Nonequilibrium Physics, Biological and Softmatter Physics

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

1. Theory of Elementary Particles

Understanding the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions at the most basic levels is the main purpose of theory of Elementary Particles. At present the so-called "theory of everything" is sought after by many theoreticians. The superstring theory is considered to be the most promising candidate, offering the possibility of consistent unification of all forces including quantum gravity. In the field of experimental physics, high-precision experiments at LEP on the Z boson and the discovery of the "top quark" at Tevatron have established the standard model as a highly reliable theory of nature. Efforts are also made to go beyond the standard model; long base line neutrino oscillation experiments, B factories at Belle and BABAR and the LHC project are some examples of the movement in this direction.

Current interests among faculty members include:

1. Superstring theories: dualities, D-branes, background solutions, non-susy string theory, new formulations of superstring, and string field theories.

2. Quantum gravity: non-commutative geometry, origin of space-time and gravity.

3. Gauge theories and their applications: non-perturbative analysis of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories and their phenomenological implications, study of quantum transport phenomena.

4. Phenomenological study: supersymmetric extensions of the standard model, supersymmetry breaking models, supersymmetric inflation.

5. Exactly solvable models: completely solvable quantum field theories and related mathematical problems.

6. Lattice gauge theory: theoretical and numerical study of the nonperturbative aspects of gauge theory, computation of weak matrix elements of hadrons.

With or without the members of the Institute as care organizers, many research projects are proposed and carried out every year in these fields of research. Some of these projects are organized as nation-wide or international topical symposia, and others are organized as small-sized workshops.

2. Nuclear Theory

The study of nuclear structure and nuclear interactions constitutes one of the traditional research areas of the Institute since the inception of the former RIFP. Yukawa's meson theory played a historical role in research programs on nuclear forces and nuclear many-body problems undertaken at the Institute. The Institute has supported many research programs on developing various nuclear models and concepts appropriate to many different facets of complex nuclear phenomena, such as collective nuclear motions, the cluster structures of light nuclei, nuclear fission, heavy-ion collisions, and hypernuclei. With its interdisciplinary environment, the Institute also has played a special role in promoting new research areas at the interface of nuclear, astro- and particle physics, fields such as theory of high density nuclear matter, and manifestation of underlying subnuclear degrees of freedom in extreme physical conditions.

Current research topics undertaken by the regular staff of the Institute include: stochastic models for low energy heavy-ion collisions and dissipative nuclear fusion/fission processes; theory for synthesis of the superheavy elements; chiral symmetry aspects of hadron and nuclear physics based on QCD, chiral transition which nuclear (hadronic) matter may undergo at high density and/or temperature to be realized in the intermediate stage of ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions, in the early universe and possibly in heavy nuclei, and color-superconductivity in hot quark matter.

3. Astrophysics, Cosmology and General Relativity

Current research activities in this group are divided into three representative fields. The first one is cosmology. One of the major subjects in this field is the study of the very early universe making use of theories on high-energy physics. In particular, inspired by recent progress in string theories, higher-dimensional universe models such as brane-world models are currently studied actively. Another important subject is the construction of cosmological evolution models in late stages that are consistent with observational information. It covers the dark matter problem, the dark energy problem, the evolution and formation of large-scale structures of the universe, and the CMB anisotropy predictions.

The second major field is general relativity. Researches in this field cover investigations of fundamental problems in general relativity or other gravity theories in four and higher dimensions such as spacetime singularities and global structures of spacetimes, and those of cross-disciplinary problems such as black holes in brane-world models. In particular, the classification of higher-dimensional black holes and the investigation of their properties are becoming major subjects in this field in connection with recent developments in unified theories for the fundamental laws. Along with these mathematical problems, precise calculations of the emission rate and determination of wave patterns for gravitational waves from coalescence and gravitational collapse of stars are being carried out, in order to cope with detection of gravitational waves in a near future by gravitational wave detection experiments.

The third one is theoretical astrophysics. Researches in this field include formation and (cosmological) evolution of various astrophysical objects, ranging from compact objects such as neutron stars, supernovae and gamma-ray bursters to galaxies and supermassive black holes, dynamics of accretion flow into black holes, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and radiation-hydrodynamics (RHD) of astrophysical plasmas and high-energy cosmic rays. Thanks to the recent rapid developments in observational techniques, various aspects and activities of astrophysical objects have been revealed by space missions with large optical telescopes and X-ray and radio telescopes on board as well as by ground-based telescopes that cover radio, infra-red, optical and gamma-ray bands. Therefore, the necessity of theoretical calculations and the interpretations of the observational data have grown up enormously in these days. Under this background, astrophysical systems containing black holes are investigated by analytical and numerical methods, in order to clarify their basic physics. It is also being studied how to make critical tests of general relativity by using future radio space interferometer. Furthermore, many theoretical predictions in the field of high-energy astrophysics have been given to be tested by next generation detectors of high-energy gamma-rays and neutrinos.

4. Condensed-Matter Physics and Advanced Statistical Dynamics

The subject of condensed-matter physics is how matter behaves at low temperatures where the quantum nature of particles becomes manifest. Electrons are correlated with each other through the electromagnetic interaction and at the same time each electron obeys the so-called Fermi statistics (or the Pauli principle) which is purely quantum in its origin. As a consequence of the interplay among these two and other factors, matter shows a variety of phases e.g. metallic-, insulating-, magnetic-, and superconducting ones. With the help of field theories, large-scale numerical simulations, and other methods, we study low-energy dynamics of internal degrees of freedom carried by electrons in various phases of strongly correlated electron systems, quantum phenomena found in low-dimensional magnets under high magnetic field, mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity, and so on.

The Advanced Statistical Dynamics Division has been oriented toward fundamental research, whose subjects are reflected in the division's titles: The Division of 'Statistical Physics' was established in 1980, it was renamed as 'Non - Linear Physics' Division in 1987, and 'Non-Equilibrium Physics' in 1997. Then recently in 2007, it has been replaced by the present Division of 'Advanced Statistical Dynamics.'

A number of interesting dynamic orders and structures with various functions emerge in systems far from equilibrium. We are exploring the fundamental principle of these dynamics and formation of structures. Another subject is the morphology and kinetics of nano/mesoscopic transport processes. We are also extensively studying granular physics as an example of glassy soft condensed materials. In a wider context a bridge between the disciplines of physics and of biology has also been elaborated. Especially, on the basis of a wide variety of complex life phenomena including life's origins and its evolution as well as the aging of body and mind, we are planning to develop a synthetic simplified theory of life.

The studies in both Divisions are greatly encouraged by the rapid development of recent nano - technologies including molecular biology and information science as well as solid state and optical devices.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

The promotion of international collaboration is one of the main objects of the Institute. From its earliest days, when it served as an inter-university organization, the Institute (in particular, the former RIFP) stressed international activities as an important function. From World War II to the early 1950's, scientists in Japan had little opportunity for contact with those abroad. To improve this situation, the Science Council of Japan (JSC) decided to invite the International Conference on Theoretical Physics to Japan in 1953. The embryonic Institute played host to the Conference.

In 1985 the International Conference on Elementary Particles was held in Kyoto, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Yukawa's meson theory. It was organized and run by the Institute, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Faculty of Science. The proceedings of this Conference were published by the Publication Office of the Progress of Theoretical Physics in 1986.

To commemorate the centennial anniversary of Yukawa and Tomonaga, we organized eYukawa-Tomonaga Centennial Symposium - Progress in Modern Physics -' in 2006, reviewing the developments in modern physics pioneered by them, discussing the present status of various areas in physics, and providing future perspectives on fundamental physics in the 21st century.

The Institute started to organize the international "Kyoto Summer Institute (KSI)", an annual series of advanced lectures and seminars open to researchers, including pre-doctoral students from all over the country as well as from abroad. In 1987 the KSI was renamed the "Yukawa International Seminar (YKIS)". Since 1991, YKIS was cosponsored by the Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara as one of the collaborating activities of the two Institutes. The first cosponsored meeting was held in Kyoto in 1991, and the second at Santa Barbara in 1992. After 2003, YKIS has been held in Kyoto every year by the Institute. In Table 2, the themes and the number of participants of YKIS meetings are listed. The proceedings of each YKIS meeting are published.

The Institute supported or cosponsored several International Symposia organized by related universities, such as the "1985 INS International Symposium on Composite Models of Quarks and Leptons" (1985, Kyoto) and the "International Conference on Clustering Aspects in Nuclear and Subnuclear Systems" (1988, Kyoto). Since 1986, the Institute has also cosponsored the Nishinomiya Yukawa-Memorial Symposium held at the city of Nishinomiya, where Yukawa carried out his work on meson theory.

Table 1 shows the projects approved in the academic year 2006, 2007, and 2008. These meetings have made important contributions to nation-wide activities in theoretical physics. The projects are not necessarily confined to the conventional branches of physics, and the Institute is ready to sponsor meetings on any new topics in the realm of fundamental physics.

The Institute launched a new five-year project "Yukawa International Program of Quark-Hadron Sciences" starting from the academic year 2007. To make the Institute a unique center for international collaborations, we hold two or three long-term workshops and conferences each year to advance theoretical research not only in quark-hadron physics but also in related areas including string theory, astrophysics, physics of strongly-correlated systems, and non-perturbative nonequilibrium dynamics.

In addition to the participants of those international scientific meetings, a large number of overseas physicists visit the Institute for delivering lectures, discussion and collaboration etc. Table 3 gives the number of overseas visitors in the last five years.

The YITP visiting-professorship in the field of theoretical physics is open yearly for distinguished scientists. The appointment will be made for the minimum term of three months, and may be extended up to six months.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Progress of Theoretical Physics and its Supplement

The Institute edits and publishes a monthly academic journal Progress of Theoretical Physics (PTP) and its supplement series. Founded by Hideki Yukawa in 1946, it is now one of the journals of the Physical Society of Japan. Two volumes (6 issues each) are published yearly. Supplements are published approximately quarterly and were published up to No. 174. The circulation is 800 copies per month in 2008, about half of which are for abroad. The entire PTP archive is available on PTP Online from the first issue. http://ptp.ipap.jp

The impact factor for PTP is 1,936 (2007).

For information on PTP, please visit:

http://www2.yukawa.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~ptpwww

2. Soryushiron Kenkyu (Study on Elementary Particle Theory)

Soryushiron Kenkyu is a bimonthly journal (used to be monthly till 2006), which consists of contribution from the members of Soryushiron Group (The group of researchers in elementary particle physics in Japan). The first volume appeared in October, 1948, and more than 700 volumes have been published until recently. The articles are in Japanese or English, and discuss the theory of elementary particles, nuclei and related problems for prompt exchange of ideas. The early volumes contain the articles by the pioneers in the development of the physics in Japan, such as Dr. Yukawa and Dr. Tomonaga. Edited by a staff member of the Institute, it carries original work, reviews, lecture notes, researcher's opinions and other items. Reports on research meetings sponsored by the Institute are also included. It has presently 300 subscribers. The entire Soryushiron Kenkyu digital archive is available on CiNii operated by National Institute of Informatics (NII). For more information, please visit:

http://www2.yukawa.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~sokened/

3. Bussei Kenkyu

Bussei Kenkyu is a monthly publication in Japanese on condensed matter, statistical physics and related problems. It contains original communications, reports of research meetings, lecture notes and other items. The number of subscribers is 270. The entire Bussei Kenkyu digital archive is available on CiNii operated by National Institute of Informatics (NII). For more information, please visit:

http://www2.yukawa.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~busseied

4. Preprint Series

Research work performed by regular staff members and log-term visitors to the Institute is registered as preprints of the Institute, and quickly made public by uploading them as electric preprints to WWW e-print archives or in a printed form. The preprints of the Institute are currently published in the YITP series starting a new from October 1995. As of 2007, 902 papers have been published in this series, in addition to 950 papers in the RIFP series and 750 papers in the RRK series published before the unification of RIFP and RITP.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

1. The Institute Library

The Library of the Institute contains 8,900 books in Japanese and 82,973 books in other languages, and it subscribes to more than 700 journals. Many journals are also available electronically. The main research fields covered are elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology, solid state theory and statistical physics. Books on mathematical sciences, biophysics and some other subjects are also included.

2. The YITP Information Center

The Information Center was established in 1978. Its activity includes publication of the YITP preprint series.
Maintenance of the HEP database is done in collaboration with SLAC (the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) in the U.S.A. and some other institutions around the world. The Center has worldwide information on research papers in high-energy physics and related fields. The HEP database is built in SPIRES (Stanford Public Information Retrieval System), and is updated daily. The Information Center also maintains the electronic preprints (e-prints) archive server, operating as one of the clone servers reproduced from the master server at Cornell University in the U.S.A.

The Information Center is also sending research information through the Internet. This includes job opportunities, seminars and workshops, transparencies and audio records of the talks in the YITP workshops.

3. Computer Facility

At an early stage in the development of computer networks in Japan, YITP joined the BITNET and introduced some terminal machines directly connected to the computer at the Data Processing Center of Kyoto University.

In 1997 the YITP installed a computer facility that includes two large machines, a vector processor NEC SX4 and a RISC-based parallel processor HP Exemplar. These facilities are replaced in 2002 by a new system including a vector processor NEC SX5, a parallel processor SGI Origin3000 and Alpha Server ES40 (4CPUx4). Further replacement took place in 2006 for a supercomputer system including 6 nodes of supercomputers with vector processor NEC SX-8 as well as a parallel processor SGI Altix 3700. These computers together with other workstations are used for scientific calculations and other purposes by all the researchers at the YITP. They are also used by many theoretical physicists all over Japan through computer networks.

4. Yukawa Hall Archival Library

The Institute houses the Yukawa Hall Archival Library (YHAL), established in August 1979. The YHAL's purpose is to collect and keep historical source materials in particle and nuclear physics and other modern physics, and to make catalogues open to researchers for reference. YHAL's most important documents are Professor Yukawa's original materials on the establishment and later development of meson theory in the 1930's and 1940's.

5. Kitashirakawa Gakusha

This is the guesthouse run by the Institute for scholars and researchers who visit either the Institute or the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences (RIMS) for a short term. Fourteen visitors can be accommodated. Admission is granted through the Institute.

6. Center for the Next Generation of Physics, Spun from Universality and Emergence supported by the Global COE program

In 2008, Yukawa Institute and Graduate School of Science in Kyoto University were selected jointly as one of the centers of the Global COE (the Global Center of Excellence) program supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. This program provides funds to hold international meetings, to exchange researchers between Japan and other countries, to invite scholars from abroad and to hire post-doctoral fellows. For details about this program, see the web page:

http://www.scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp/gcoe/index_e.html

7. Panasonic auditorium

The Panasonic Auditorium in Yukawa Hall was inaugurated in 2008, thanks to the donation from Panasonic Corporation. It is equipped with high-tech audio-visual machines and it can accommodate approximately 140 people. Having this new auditorium has greatly enhanced our flexibility in organizing workshops and conferences.

8. Funds for Overseas Visitors

In addition to the fund supported by the Global COE program, there are some funds to invite researchers from abroad.

Programs sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS): http://www.jsps.go.jp

a) Invitation Fellowship

These programs are designed to enable Japanese scientists to invite their colleagues abroad to Japan for collaboration and other academic activities. They consist of two programs; a short-term program and a long-term program.

b) Post-doctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers

The program is aimed at providing opportunities for young foreign researchers to conduct cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions, under the guidance of their hosts.

c) Bilateral Programs

JSPS also provides a number of bilateral programs for scientific cooperation and exchange under memoranda of understanding concluded between themselves and various foreign academic institutions.

9. Fellowship for Domestic Young Researchers

Some types of post-doctoral fellowships are available for young Japanese researchers. One of them is the research fellowship supported by the Global COE program, mentioned above. The other is the JSPS post-doctoral fellowship whose candidates are screened by the JSPS. The tenure is three years.

The atom-type fellowship is given to those who visit the Institute for a relatively short period of up to a few months. The award consists of travel expenses within Japan and living expenses.

The Yukawa Memorial Foundation, which was established in 1956, offers several programs to support YITP activities. Two outstanding YITP post-doctors are annually awarded a title of Yukawa fellow.

The Yukawa-Kimura prize was established in 2007. The prize is given annually to a scientist who has made not only significant contribution to fundamental, theoretical fields of gravity and spacetime theories or field theory, but also who is expected to play a leading role in those fields in the future.

1	4th Meeting on Society of Nano Science and Technology
2	Environmental Physics: Toward Developing The Interdisciplinary Frontiers
3	XIII International Conference on Small-angle Scattering /Satellite meeting of SAS2006
4	Structures and Dynamics in Soft Matter - Beyond Self-Organization and Hierarchical Structures
5	Progress in Particle Physics 2006
6	The 51th Summer Seminar for young researchers of condensed-matter physics
7	Quantum Fluids and Solids (QFS2006)
8	YONUPA Summer School 2006
9	Thermal Quantum Field Theories and Their Applications
10	String Theory and Quantum Field Theory
11	The 17th International Spin Physics Symposium
12	Nishinomiya-Yuakwa Memorial Symposium: Noncommutative geometry and quantum space-time in physics
13	Present and Future for the Fundamental Physics : After 'Trends of Fundamental Physics' in 2005 and Yukawa-Tomonaga
14	The Extreme Universe in the Suzaku Era
15	Yukawa-Tomonaga Centennial Symposium- Progress in Modern Physics -
16	Fundamental Problems and Applications of Quantum Field Theory -Topological Aspects of Quantum Field Theory-
17	YITP Meeting of Nuclear Cluster Physics
18	Present Status and Perspective in Granular Physics
19	New Frontiers in Gamma-Ray Bursts
20	Effective Interaction Theories and Nuclear Physics
21	Black Hole Astronomy in the Suzaku Era

1	Physics of nonlinear oscillator systems: Analysis of current problems
2	Nuclear Structure: New Pictures in the Extended Isospin Space
3	New Fontiers in Colloidal Physics: A Brigde between Micro- and Macroscpic Concepts in Soft Matter
4	Summer School on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2007
5	Summer Institute 2007
6	String theory and field theory - frontier of quantum and space-time
7	The 52th Summer Seminar for young researchers of condensed-matter physics
8	YONUPA Summer School 2007
9	VIII Asia-Pacific International Conference on Gravitation and Astrophysics (ICGA8)
10	Scientific program on Gravity and Cosmology
11	Thermal Quantum Field Theories and Their Applications
12	KIAS-YITP Joint Workshop "String Phenomenology and Cosmology"
13	COE Symposium on the Diversity and Universality of Physics
14	Nishinomiya-Yukawa Memorial International Syposium: What is Life? The Next 100 Years of Yukawa's Dream
15	International CAWSES Symposium
16	Towards the precise predictions of CP violation
17	YITP Workshop on "Quasi-Periodic Oscillations and Time Variabilities of Accretion Flows"
18	New Properties of Molecular Zerogap Materials
19	International Workshop on GUT: Present and Future
20	Econophysics III--Physical Approach to Social and Economic Phenomena--
21	Unsolved Problems in Astrophysics
22	APCTP-YITP Workshop on "Accretion and Outflow in Astrophysics" and the second Korea-Japan Young Astronomers Meeting (KJYAM)
23	New Frontiers in QCD 2008: fundamental problems in hot and/or dense matter
24	30 Years of Mathematical Methods in High Energy Physics

1	String theory and Cosmology
2	Topological aspects of solid state physics
3	Molecular Structures and Low-energy Reactions in Nuclear Systems
4	Aspects of Quantum Integrability
5	Summer School on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2008
6	Development of Quantum Field Theory and String Theory
7	Quantum physics in non-uniform superconducting and superfluid systems
8	The 53th Summer Seminar for young researchers of condensed-matter physics
9	YONUPA Summer School 2008
10	Knots and soft-matter physics: topology of polymers and related topics in physics, mathematics and biology
11	Thermal Quantum Field Theories and Their Applications
12	Workshop on Maximum Entropy Production: Earth, Life and Physical Approaches
13	What is Creativity? Emergent Phenomena in Complex Adaptive Systems
14	The 23rd Nishinomiya-Yukawa Memorial International Workshop "Spin Transport in Condensed Matter"
15	Frontiers of Glassy Physics
16	Unifying Concepts in Glass Physics IV (UCGP2008)
17	Recent Progress in Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG)
18	Massive Black Hole Astronomy: the latest trends and issues

Academic Year	Theme	Date	Number of participants
2004	Physics of Strongly Correlated Electron Systems	Nov. 1 - 19	174
2005	The Next Chapter in Einstein's Legacy	June 27 – July 1	176
2006	New Frontiers in QCD--Exotic Hadrons and Hadronic Matter	Nov. 20 – Dec. 8	191
2007	Interaction and Nanostructural Effects in Low-Dimensional Systems	Nov. 5 – Nov. 30	180
2008	Particle Physics beyond the Standard Model	Jan. 26 – March 25	49

Academic year	Long-term visitors (more than 3 months)	Short-term visitors
Academic year	Long-term visitors (more than 3 months)	(more than 2 weeks)	(less than 2 weeks)
2003	8	7	108
2004	9	17	259
2005	12	38	223
2006	12	11	894
2007	11	8	616