Q What is your research theme?
As a new material, we are searching for magnetic semiconductors, which are semiconductors with magnetic properties.
Q What is your research and what attracts you to it?
When magnetic semiconductors become commercially available, it is expected that novel low-power devices will be realized that can simultaneously perform high-speed computation, which is an advantage of semiconductors, and nonvolatile recording, which is an advantage of magnetic materials. However, a room-temperature magnetic semiconductor suitable for practical use has not yet been discovered. In order to realize such a device, we have been fabricating semiconductor samples by precisely controlling various fabrication conditions. When we are able to fabricate a sample with a temperature that is even slightly high enough to maintain magnetism, we investigate the reason for this and use it as a hint for the next experiment.
Q Please give a message to students.
The real thrill of research lies in revealing for the first time in the world what no one has known before. What is important in this process is one’s curiosity and inquisitiveness. Of course, even with careful preparation for an experiment, there are times when things don’t go quite right. When that happens, think positively, “This is the first time in the world that I have found something that doesn’t work this way! and think positively. Let’s work together, believing that positive thinking and action will lead to new inventions and discoveries!
