June 22–July 2, 2026
S. Carin Gavin Research Stay at Tohoku University
S. Carin Gavin will stay in Sendai from June 22 to July 2, 2026 for research activities at Tohoku University.
Chicago-Tohoku
Quantum Alliance
CTQA Activities and Updates
About CTQA
Collaboration and Exchange
The Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance (CTQA) is a trans-Pacific initiative connecting Tohoku University and the University of Chicago in quantum science and technology.
CTQA promotes research exchange and collaborative activities in quantum materials, spin-based systems, quantum information science, and related enabling technologies.
Its activities include workshops, seminars, outreach programs, startup-related programs, researcher visits, and selected research highlights connected to the alliance.
Selected Outcomes
Selected CTQA Research Highlights
The archive below presents CTQA activities and selected research highlights in chronological order.
Future Events
June 29–30, 2026
3rd Workshop on the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
Scheduled for June 29–30, 2026 in Sendai, the third CTQA workshop will bring together alliance members for research exchange and future collaboration.
July 29–30, 2026
Tohoku University Open Campus 2026 Exhibit
A CTQA exhibit is planned for Tohoku University Open Campus 2026.
Timeline
May 30–June 2, 2026
Micro-ARPES experiment at Nanoteras
Nathan Flanders and Nazar Delegan visited Japan on May 28 for a micro-ARPES experiment at Nanoteras from May 30 to June 2, 2026.
March 15, 2026
JSAP Paper Award for CTQA-Linked Paper on Spinel Color Centers
The CTQA-linked spinel color center paper received the JSAP Paper Award on March 15, 2026.
March 5, 2026
Paper on Isotope Engineering
An MRS Bulletin paper on isotope engineering by Prof. Shun Kanai and collaborators was published on March 5, 2026.
Citation: Kanai, S., Suzuki, S., and Anderson, C. P. A unified periodic table of quantum coherence for isotope engineering. MRS Bulletin, 1-6 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43577-025-01052-0
November 28, 2025
Paper on Two-Dimensional Materials
A paper on strategies to search for two-dimensional materials with long spin qubit coherence time was highlighted by Tohoku University in November 2025.
Citation: Toriyama, M. Y., Zhan, J., Kanai, S. et al. Strategies to search for two-dimensional materials with long spin qubit coherence time. npj 2D Mater. Appl. 9, 108 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00623-8
Nature paper UChicago PME news Tohoku University press release
November 2–7, 2025
Hiroaki Kobayashi and Colleagues Visit to the University of Chicago and Chicago Quantum Summit
Hiroaki Kobayashi and colleagues visited the University of Chicago and participated in Chicago Quantum Summit week from November 2 to 7, 2025.
November 3–27, 2025
S. Carin Gavin Research Stay at Tohoku University
S. Carin Gavin stayed at Tohoku University for research activities from November 3 to November 27, 2025.
November 21, 2025
4th Seminar of the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
The fourth CTQA seminar featured S. Carin Gavin on mixed-dimensional heterostructures and was held at RIEC, Tohoku University, in Sendai.
October 11, 2025
RIEC Open House 2025 Exhibit
A CTQA exhibit was presented at RIEC Open House 2025 with collaborators from the University of Chicago, featuring hands-on quantum-themed activities and games for visitors.
October 9–12, 2025
Sonja Coates, Nolan Miller, and Sunanda Prabhu-Gaunkar Visit to Tohoku University
Sonja Coates, Nolan Miller, and Sunanda Prabhu-Gaunkar visited Tohoku University from October 9 to 12, 2025.
September 11, 2025
F. Joseph Heremans Visit to Tohoku University
F. Joseph Heremans visited Tohoku University in Sendai on September 11, 2025.
August 19–21, 2025
Quantum Ideathon 2025
Quantum Ideathon 2025 was held at G-QuAT in Tsukuba, and the event announcement stated that the program used the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance global quantum network.
Tohoku University event page Startup Incubation Center report
July 30–31, 2025
Tohoku University Open Campus 2025 Exhibit
CTQA activities were presented during Tohoku University Open Campus 2025 through a special exhibition developed with the University of Chicago and highlighted during the International Year of Quantum.
July 30–31, 2025
David D. Awschalom, Nancy Kawalek, and STAGE members Visit to Tohoku University
David D. Awschalom and Nancy Kawalek visited Tohoku University on July 30–31, 2025.
May 15–16, 2025
2nd Workshop on the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
The second CTQA workshop brought together participants from Tohoku University, the University of Chicago, and Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, with a full two-day agenda at the David Rubenstein Forum.
UChicago workshop page Tohoku news coverage Laboratory participation note
January 13, 2025
Yoichiro Tanaka Visit to the University of Chicago
Yoichiro Tanaka visited the University of Chicago on January 13, 2025.
October 25, 2024
Shun Kanai Visit to the University of Chicago and Chicago Quantum Summit
Shun Kanai visited the University of Chicago during Chicago Quantum Summit week.
October 28, 2024
F. Joseph Heremans and Benjamin Pingault Visit to Tohoku University
F. Joseph Heremans and Benjamin Pingault visited Tohoku University during a CTQA visit.
August 1, 2024
3rd Seminar of the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
The third CTQA seminar featured Joseph Heremans and Benjamin Pingault at RIEC, Tohoku University.
July 19, 2024
CTQA-Linked Paper on Spinel Color Centers
This CTQA-linked paper on spinel color centers was published in Applied Physics Express on July 19, 2024.
Citation: Kawahara, M., Abe, Y., Takano, K., Heremans, F. J., Ishihara, J., Sullivan, S. E., Vorwerk, C., Somjit, V., Anderson, C. P., Wolfowicz, G., Kohda, M., Fukami, S., Galli, G., Awschalom, D. D., Ohno, H., and Kanai, S. Polarization-dependent photoluminescence of Ce-implanted MgO and MgAl2O4. Appl. Phys. Express 17, 072004 (2024). https://doi.org/10.35848/1882-0786/ad59f4
July 30–31, 2024
Tohoku University Open Campus 2024 Exhibit
CTQA activities were presented during Tohoku University Open Campus 2024 as part of Alliance Week 2024, with hands-on quantum games developed together with the University of Chicago.
News report Alliance Week page UChicago PME news Open campus page
July 30–31, 2024
David D. Awschalom, Nancy Kawalek, and STAGE members Visit to Tohoku University
David D. Awschalom and Nancy Kawalek visited Tohoku University on July 30–31, 2024.
July 29–30, 2024
Workshop for Quantum Startups Creation in Japan
Part of Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance Week 2024, this Tokyo workshop focused on startup creation, mentoring, and cross-Pacific quantum innovation.
July 29, 2024
Quantum Interaction
An interaction session moderated by Yoichiro Tanaka was held in Tokyo immediately before the startup workshop.
February 27, 2024
2nd Seminar of the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
The second CTQA seminar featured Takafumi Sato at the University of Chicago.
May 14, 2024
Shun Kanai Visit to the University of Chicago
Shun Kanai visited the University of Chicago during a CTQA visit.
May 6 and 13, 2024
Yoichiro Tanaka Visit to the University of Chicago
Yoichiro Tanaka visited the University of Chicago on May 6 and 13, 2024.
February 27–28, 2024
Takafumi Sato Visit to the University of Chicago
Takafumi Sato visited the University of Chicago during a CTQA visit.
February 14, 2024
Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance Symposium
A public symposium at BASE Q in Tokyo focused on quantum technology innovation, startup creation, and international collaboration between Tohoku University and the University of Chicago.
November 20, 2023
F. Joseph Heremans and Collaborators Visit to Tohoku University
F. Joseph Heremans and collaborators visited Tohoku University during a CTQA visit.
November 20, 2023
1st Seminar of the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
The first CTQA seminar was held at Tohoku University in Sendai.
October 25, 2023
Shun Kanai Visit to the University of Chicago
Shun Kanai visited the University of Chicago during a CTQA visit.
October 5–6, 2023
1st Workshop on the Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance
The first CTQA workshop was held at Tohoku University in Sendai.
June 6, 2023
Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance Launch
The Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance was officially announced by Tohoku University and the University of Chicago.