Awards
Kondo prize for Dr. Tomoaki Kimura
Tomoaki Kimura has been awarded with the Kondo prize for his outstanding technological contributions and achievements in the field of laser engineering.
Dr. Kimura has developed a static compression system using a diamond anvil cell and a laser heating system to measure the melting point of MgO, which is the main mineral in the lower mantle of the Earth, at high pressures of up to 500,000 atmospheres. His achievement will lead to the elucidation of mantle dynamics and will have a great impact to planetary science, high energy science and laser science. The applications of his high-pressure laser heating device in creating new materials has forged many international collaborations.
As an international and interdisciplinary young researcher in condensed matter physics, materials and high energy density science, and planetary science, Dr. Tomoaki Kimura's work is widely recognised to contribute the development in these fields within Japan and overseas.