Okinawa School in Physics: The Science of Open Quantum Systems

The Okinawa School in Physics (OSP) series began in 2014 under the theme of Coherent Quantum Dynamics (CQD). Over the past decade, the field of quantum science and technology has expanded dramatically, encompassing a broad range of disciplines including physics, materials science, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

In 2025, we renewed the series to reflect the rapidly evolving landscape of quantum science and technology. The first school in the renewed series, Okinawa School in Physics: From Quantum Key Distribution to the Quantum Internet (OSP2025), covered topics ranging from the fundamental principles of quantum science to their practical applications and real-world implementations. The school successfully brought together students and researchers from diverse backgrounds, fostering interdisciplinary discussions and maximizing its impact on the development of quantum science and technology.

The FY2025 school marked the beginning of this renewed series. Within this framework, different topics are selected in successive years to provide participants with broad exposure to key areas of quantum science and technology. The focus of the next edition will be The Science of Open Quantum Systems, a subject that underpins many areas of modern quantum research and development. We have looked back at the previous workshops in this series and observed that many times the topic of Open Quantum Systems arises but there has not been a Workshop dedicated to this important topic so this is the primary rationale for the current choice of topic.

This school will be partially supported by the SIP program. Collaboration with this externally funded initiative will not only promote academia–industry interactions in quantum science and technology, but will also strengthen engagement with Japanese industry and contribute to the development of Japan's quantum ecosystem.

Scientific Excellence: The topic is at the heart of almost all research in quantum science and technology, no quantum system is ever isolated and this school will train students about the multidisciplinary topic of “open” quantum system – how the coupling of a “quantum system under study” – evolves when coupled to the environment. This topic is pervasive impacting quantum thermodynamics, quantum computing and communications, many-body quantum systems, quantum sensing and many topics in atomic, photonic and materials science. We have invited lecturers who are world-renown in quantum science and technology, both experimental and theoretical, and who have played integral roles in the development of the science of open quantum systems. Almost of our invited lecturers have confirmed their interest. Quantum control in a variety of physical platforms (neutral atom, trapped ion, superconducting, diamond), is advancing rapidly and some of these may reach fault-tolerant thresholds in the next year or two. Understanding the science of open quantum systems has been critical in this goal. Understanding the “environment” in a quantum system allows one to uncover new materials and phenomena.

• Interdisciplinarity: The organizing team involves both theorists and experimentalists, covers quantum sensing, quantum communications, quantum computing, quantum materials, quantum matter and many-body systems.

• Relevance and inter-Unit advantage: The topic is relevant to many units in OIST- all quantum units and also for non-quantum specific units. Understanding the environment of a quantum can be important for many molecular biological and chemical processes.

• Diversity: We have sourced speakers primarily from Europe and the USA. The reason for this is we wish to have lecturers who have a long experience and the treatment of open quantum systems, particularly in trapped ions, has its foundations in Germany/Austria/USA. We have sourced two female lecturers. Prof Northrup is world leading scientist in trapped ions and also in optomechanics. She has visited OIST on several previous occasions. We have also approached Prof Capellaro from MIT – who is a world expert in solid state quantum engineering (experiments).

*OIST members are welcome to attend all scientific sessions. Meals are closed sessions for registered participants only.

Workshop website: https://www.oist.jp/conference/osp2028

OIST is deeply committed to the advancement of women in science, in Japan and worldwide. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.