Modern society relies heavily on material design. By solving the Schrödinger equation to engineer how electrons behave within materials, the semiconductor industry has seen remarkable achievements. However, these successes are primarily confined to single-body problems, which overlook electron interactions. To truly unlock the vast potential of real materials, we must consider the correlations among various degrees of freedom, including many-body correlations. Developing a science for designing these many-body correlations, or quantum emergent phenomena, could dramatically expand the possibilities in materials science and significantly impact society.
In this project, we aim to develop a continuous process for identifying, synthesizing, and measuring materials capable of demonstrating targeted quantum emergent phenomena. This initiative seeks to establish a new field of study known as ‘correlated design science.’ Our primary objective is to uncover new classes of materials and phenomena, particularly those that can have a transformative impact on applied fields and foster new concepts in condensed matter physics. We are focused on discovering “robust materials” that can withstand extreme conditions such as high temperatures, strong magnetic fields, and disturbances; “exotic response materials” that exhibit extraordinary responses such as super-massive or ultrafast reactions; and “cradle materials” that could be the birthplace of new laws, principles, and phenomena.

Ryotaro Arita (The University of Tokyo, Professor)