Preface for Procedings of The 3rd Handai Nanoscience and Nanotechnology International Symposium

This collection of papers in e-Journal of Surface Science and Nanotechnology comprises selected papers from the 3rd Handai Nanoscience and Nanotechnology International Symposium held in Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, 26—28 September, 2007.

This symposium aims to provide an opportunity for international discussion on progress in materials science, nanobiology, molecular chemistry, nano-fabrications, and nano-scale applications. The emphasis this year is put on spin, photonic, and molecular devices in quantum limit. The idea represented by “quantum limit” has been emerging rapidly in the past few years and this interdisciplinary symposium provides an excellent opportunity for researchers from different fields to exchange their ideas on quantum limit. A total of 230 delegates from 5 countries participated in the symposium. There were 31 invited talks and 54 poster presentations. There were many new developments, from which we foresee progress in the coming years.

This conference was organized by the Organization for the Promotion of Research on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Osaka University under the auspices of the Research Promotion Board of Osaka University, the 21st Century COE Programs “Center for Atomistic Fabrication Technology”, the 21st Century COE Program “Core Research and Advanced Education Center for Materials Science and Nano Engineering”, the 21st Century COE Program “Towards a New Basic Science; Depth and Synthesis”, the Global COE Program “Center for Excellence for Advanced Structural and Functional Materials Design”, the Global COE Program “Center for Electronics Devices Innovation”, and “Quantum Nano IT Initiative”.

The 4th Handai Nanoscience and Nanotechnology International Symposium will be held in Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, 29 September—1 October, 2008.

Hisazumi Akai

Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University

Chair, The 3rd Handai Nanoscience and Nanotechnology International Symposium