Center for Precision Neutrino Research(CPNR) conducts precision measurements of neutrinos, a key element in the weak interaction involved in nuclear decay, a fundamental interaction in nature. Through this, CPNR will establish a domestic base for particle physics research exploring new physical phenomena beyond the Standard Model and lay the foundation for developing into a world-leading research group. Furthermore, the center will cultivate future young leaders in this field with creative and convergent thinking. The previous RENO experiment, conducted domestically and led by CPNR researchers, demonstrated world-class competitiveness. In addition, we are participating in international collaborations (SK, HK and JSNS2) to conduct data analysis and detector development. Building on this capability, CPNR plans to conduct various R&D and perform the Reactor Experiment for Neutrinos and Exotics(RENE). Ultimately, we aim to lay the foundation for a next-generation massive neutrino experiment led by domestic researchers.
This article presents the recent R&D activities of the Korean BIC group. The Group plays important roles in development and preparation for the mass production of the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter(BIC). This includes automated equipment for AstroPix sensor testing, the development of the End-of-Sector Box readout system, the production of Pb/SciFi calorimeter prototypes, and beam tests for performance verification.
The Reactor Antineutrino Anomaly(RAA) and the 5 MeV excess have presented persistent challenges in modern particle and nuclear physics, potentially indicating the existence of sterile neutrinos beyond the Standard Model. To address this anomaly through a model-independent search, the Reactor Experiment for Neutrinos and Exotics (RENE) project has been launched. This paper provides a concise overview of the physical, chemical, and engineering innovations driving the RENE detector. To overcome the gamma-ray energy leakage inherent in conventional short-baseline detectors, a 150-mm-thick 3D gamma-catcher layer was introduced, achieving an unprecedented energy resolution of approximately 4% at 5 MeV. Furthermore, large-area 20-inch photomultiplier tubes(PMTs) were optimized, and a novel quality assurance framework using Fourier-transform infrared(FT-IR) spectroscopy and density functional theory(DFT) was established to control trace impurities in the liquid scintillator. A detachable 3D-printed support structure was developed to optimize optical coupling in the active cosmic-ray veto system. For reliable unmanned operation in an extreme, power-constrained environment, an asynchronous multi-threaded monitoring system and the advanced RAT-PAC Monte Carlo framework were successfully deployed. Building upon the legacy of the RENO and NEOS experiments, the RENE project is poised to conclusively verify the sterile neutrino anomaly while demonstrating a groundbreaking multidisciplinary expansion into 3D precision medical dosimetry.
Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), scheduled for construction at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) starting in 2026, is a next-generation hadron and nuclear physics facility. It functions as a high-precision microscope to investigate the internal structure of nucleons using high-energy electrons. This column reviews the EIC’s primary scientific goals, including the resolution of the proton spin puzzle, the origin of hadron mass, and the construction of 3D nucleon tomography. By utilizing high luminosity and polarized beams, the EIC will enable the extraction of Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) and Gravitational Form Factors (GFFs). These measurements are essential for understanding the dynamics of quarks and gluons and the non-linear regime of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).
Altermagnetism has recently emerged as a new class of magnetic order combining features of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. This article reviews the theoretical background behind the emergence of altermagnetism and discusses early symmetry-based descriptions. The characteristic properties of altermagnets are then introduced, followed by a discussion of a recent multipolar perspective in which altermagnets are understood as systems with ferroically ordered higher-order magnetic multipoles. This viewpoint provides deeper microscopic insight into phenomena such as the anomalous Hall effect and suggests a new route for electrical control of the Néel vector through magnetic multipole currents, opening new possibilities for altermagnetic spintronics.
The JSNS2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at the J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment, which aims to directly test the long-standing LSND anomaly that an anomalous oscillation signal at 1.2 eV2 incompatible with the standard three neutrino oscillation framework, by employing the same neutrino source, detection reaction as LSND. This article introduces the first physics result, a complementary measurement of missing energy in monoenergetic kaon decay-at-rest (KDAR) neutrino interactions, and the current status of the second phase JSNS2-II, as the experiment enters its decisive phase with the two detector configuration coming online toward resolving the LSND anomaly.
Large water Cherenkov detectors have played a central role in the study of neutrino physics over the past several decades. Experiments such as Kamiokande and its successor Super-Kamiokande have produced several landmark discoveries, including the observation of atmospheric neutrino oscillations, which demonstrated that neutrinos have mass. Building on these achievements, the next-generation Hyper-Kamiokande experiment is currently under construction in Japan. This detector will significantly enhance the sensitivity to neutrino oscillation parameters, CP violation in the lepton sector, proton decay, and astrophysical neutrinos. In this article, we introduce the principles of large water Cherenkov detectors and review the scientific goals of the Super-Kamiokande and Hyper-Kamiokande experiments, together with the contributions of Korean research groups to detector calibration and instrumentation.
The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), currently under construction at Brookhaven National Laboratory, is designed to explore the internal structure of nucleons and nuclei with unprecedented precision. To fully exploit the collider’s wide kinematic reach, the ePIC detector is being developed as a comprehensive experimental apparatus. Among its central components, the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter (BIC) serves as the primary electromagnetic calorimeter in the barrel region, providing precise measurements of scattered electrons, photons, and neutral mesons. BIC adopts a hybrid imaging calorimeter concept that combines a Pb/scintillating-fiber sampling calorimeter with embedded monolithic CMOS pixel sensors (AstroPix), enabling detailed three-dimensional shower reconstruction. This article introduces the accelerator–detector framework of the EIC and ePIC, and presents the design philosophy and structural features of the BIC.
Altermagnets have recently been proposed as a third class of collinear magnetic order; they exhibit zero net magnetization like antiferromagnets, yet a ferromagnet-like, momentum-dependent spin splitting in reciprocal space. This unconventional symmetry enables a large spin splitting without spin–orbit coupling, time reversal symmetry breaking transport responses, and field-free control of magnetic domains, making altermagnets a rapidly emerging platform for next-generation spintronics. In this chapter, we review recent experimental progress on altermagnet research — from bulk single-crystal growth and thin-film strain/domain engineering to ARPES studies of the electronic structure and complementary magneto-optical, nonlinear-optical, and terahertz emission probes — to summarize the current state of the field, from synthesis to characterization.
Altermagnets—a new magnetic phase that combines antiferromagnetic spin order with a spin-split electronic band structure—have emerged as compelling candidates for addressing key challenges in modern spintronics. This article surveys altermagnet research along three complementary axes. First, we discuss their potential applications in representative spintronic devices, focusing on magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) and magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Second, we address domain alignment as a practical prerequisite that determines achievable device performance, and review current strategies for controlling altermagnetic domains. Third, we introduce a recently emerging multipole-based framework that reinterprets altermagnetism as the ordering of higher-rank magnetic multipoles. Taken together, these perspectives provide an integrated view of altermagnet research across the axes of application, control, and fundamental understanding.
In this article, we provide an overview of theoretical and computational methods for studying magnetic van der Waals materials with special emphasis on first-principles computations and their application. First, we discuss the issues, such as how to properly consider electronic interactions via weak interlayer couplings, the exchange-correlation functional used for density-functional theory calculations, Hund physics, and dynamical mean-field theory methods. We then switch gears to the optical properties of magnetic van der Waals materials with specific emphasis on intriguing excitons and the interplay between spin and orbital degrees of freedom. Finally, we discuss chiral phonons and magnon-phonon interactions.
Recent advancements in van der Waals (vdW) materials have significantly impacted spintronic research, contributing to the development of devices such as magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), spin valves, and spin filters, as well as advancing fundamental studies on magnetic properties in reduced physical dimensions. The unique characteristics of vdW-assembled spintronic devices, including atomically flat interfaces and the ability to engineer material properties through proximity effects, enable the efficient induction of spin-orbit coupling, exchange polarization, and magnetic anisotropy at interfaces. These properties extend the applications of spintronics by reducing spin-dephasing scatterings and improving spin injection and detection efficiency. Despite several imminent challenges, including the discovery of new materials suitable for room-temperature applications and scalable synthesis methods, vdW materials hold great promise for next-generation spintronic devices, offering low-power, high-efficiency performance, and potential integration with quantum technologies.
This article traces the 15-year journey (2010–2025) of pioneering research on van der Waals (vdW) magnets in Korea, starting from the original idea of “magnetic graphene”. I recount my early failures with oxide systems, and then the discovery of TMPS3 compounds as model 2D magnets in the early 2010s. Crucially, the first public talks were given in 2015–2016, including one at the 2015 Korean Physical Society Fall meeting, along with the publication of four papers in 2016. Notably, the FePS3 paper verified Onsager’s 2D Ising model experimentally, which established the foundation of the field. Our work and research done by other groups triggered a global interest in the field, making vdW magnetism a major topic in condensed matter and materials science worldwide. Finally, I end with my personal reflections on the future direction of the field.
Optical spectroscopic tools are extensively utilized in the study of van der Waals magnetic materials. The small volume of atomically thin specimens renders traditional measurement tools such as magnetic susceptibility measurements or neutron scattering experiment inadequate. Optical measurements, on the other hand, can have a spatial resolution on the order of the focus size of the probing beam and are often sensitive enough to probe atomically thin samples. Several optical spectroscopy techniques have demonstrated to be capable of probing various physical properties of these materials. Raman spectroscopy, terahertz spectroscopy, photoluminescence, optical absorption, and second harmonic generation have been applied to various magnetic van der Waals materials and have shown to be particularly powerful in the studies of antiferromagnetic van der Waals materials.
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the experimental demonstration of macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy quantization of the phase particle defined in a Josephson junction. This groundbreaking work extended quantum mechanics beyond microscopic systems into the macroscopic realm. By revealing that Josephson junctions could function as superconducting artificial atoms, the discovery enabled researchers to engineer and control quantum states with unprecedented precision, thereby providing a crucial foundation for the subsequent development of superconducting quantum computers.
The Nobel laureates of this year have devised an experiment to observe macroscopic quantum tunneling in an electrical circuit made of superconductors. This monumental discovery has sparked numerous innovations and ultimately earned the three pioneers the Nobel prize. Afterwards, superconducting circuits play a key role in the proliferation of quantum technology in the 21st century. Especially, in the heart of the 2nd quantum revolution, quantum information technology is based on the radical development of the quantum computers. Superconducting Josephson junction devices has been the most advanced technology that has been picked up by the global tech giants in quantum computing. I will briefly review how the superconducting quantum chips and the macroscopic quantum effect had led innovation in quantum technology afterwards.
It is widely believed that the microscopic, that is, atomic-scale or smaller, world is governed by quantum mechanics while the macroscopic world, where our direct and daily experiences reside, is governed by classical mechanics. But why? Why do we not observe quantum phenomena such as quantum tunneling and quantum superposition in the macroscopic world? Where is the boundary between the microscopic and macroscopic worlds when it comes to the governing physical principles? Macroscopic quantum phenomena were first examined theoretically by A. Leggett in the 1970s. This boldly audacious idea was experimentally demonstrated in a series of groundbreaking works on Josephson junctions by John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis in 1985, that have been celebrated by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics. The trio’s work spurred the development of various qubit types based on superconducting circuits, ultimately leading to the current advancement of superconducting quantum computers.
Recent advancements in materials science increasingly rely on high-brightness synchrotron X-rays to uncover the structural, electronic, and chemical properties of advanced materials at the atomic-scale. Korea-4GSR, a 4th-generation synchrotron facility currently under construction, introduces four specialized beamlines tailored for materials research: Real-Time XAFS (X-ray Absorption Fine Structure), MSA (Material Structure Analysis), Soft X-ray Nanoprobe, and NanoARPES. Each beamline is optimized for core techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, high-resolution powder diffraction (HRPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/AP-XPS), and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), offering unparalleled precision and speed. The Real-Time XAFS beamline enables sub-second XAFS and XES measurements under dynamic in-situ/operando conditions. The MSA beamline delivers high-resolution, rapid powder diffraction analysis tailored for industrial applications. The Soft X-ray Nanoprobe beamline provides flexible configurations for high-throughput XPS/XAS analysis across 0.1‒5 keV, including ambient pressure XPS. The NanoARPES (Nanoscale Angle-resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy) beamline, the first dedicated nanoscale ARPES facility in Korea, delivers high spatial and momentum resolution for probing localized electronic structures in quantum and 2D materials. Together, these beamlines form a next-generation analytical platform, enabling real-time, atomic-scale investigations that will drive innovation across semiconductors, energy materials, and catalysis.
Nuclear data serve as a fundamental infrastructure for nuclear and radiation technologies and are essential in various fields such as reactor design and safety analysis, radioactive waste management, radiation medicine, and fusion research. Korea Nuclear Data Center (KNDC) is leading neutron reaction research through a collaborative project launched in 2024 between top-tier research institutions in Korea and Japan. This collaboration includes joint neutron reaction measurements using major accelerator facilities in Korea and Japan, such as RAON NDPS, RIKEN RIBF, and J-PARC MLF(ANNRI). In addition, the project will continue to promote talent development and academic exchange programs, including the Korea-Japan Joint Summer School and the Asian Nuclear Reaction Database Workshop. This collaboration is expected to enhance the reliability of nuclear data and strengthen their international applicability, contributing to improved competitiveness in future nuclear and radiation applications.
The TOPTIER (Top-Tier platform In Extreme Rare Isotope science) initiative represents a strategic international collaboration between South Korea’s RAON(Rare isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiments) and Japan’s RIBF (Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory), two of the world’s leading rare isotope (RI) beam facilities. Launched in July 2024, TOPTIER aims to establish a sustainable platform for joint research, researcher exchange, and shared infrastructure in the field of nuclear physics. This paper outlines the motivations behind TOPTIER’s creation, its three-stage development roadmap (2024–2033), and major goals including the discovery of extreme neutron-rich isotopes. Notable Korean-led projects approved by RIKEN’s Program Advisory Committee demonstrate the increasing impact of this collaboration. Furthermore, the platform supports global talent cultivation through summer schools, workshops, and postdoctoral programs. By integrating complementary strengths in RI beam production and experimental capabilities, TOPTIER is poised to become a global hub for extreme rare isotope research and to contribute to a deeper understanding of the origin of matter and the universe.
