$\"\"$ Mr. Zechen Lan joined as an Assistant Professor in April 2025,\u00a0 returning to ILE where he had pursued his graduate studies.<\/p>\n

At university in China, I studied subjects related to optics and information and communications technology, and became interested in how lasers work and how they can be used. I then came to Japan to study and began doing research at the Institute of Laser Engineering. During graduate school, I worked on generating neutrons using lasers and applying them to the analysis of materials. I received my doctorate in 2024, then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology before taking up my current position.<\/p>\n

What I find exciting about research is the chance to tackle unanswered questions using methods I have thought of myself. Rather than learning only from textbooks, I can gradually deepen my understanding by testing things with my own hands. As I gained more of these experiences, I began to feel that research was something I wanted to keep doing.<\/p>\n

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Figure 1. One application of neutrons: investigating the temperature inside a material. This conceptual diagram uses an AI-generated image with explanatory labels added.<\/p><\/div>\n
What does your research involve?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
I develop laser-driven neutron sources, which use lasers to generate neutrons, and explore their applications. Neutrons can pass through materials, helping us investigate the elemental composition and internal temperature of a material without damaging it.<\/p>\n
Alongside developing these sources, I want to use them to analyze materials and understand physical phenomena. One of the most exciting aspects of this research is seeing a neutron source we have developed lead to new measurements and discoveries.<\/p>\n
What has been the most memorable moment in your research so far?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
The most memorable moment was during an experiment in 2020, when I first succeeded in measuring a neutron resonance absorption spectrum using a laser-driven neutron source. Different types of atomic nuclei absorb neutrons in characteristic ways, and this measurement reveals those patterns. At the time, many professors thought this would be difficult to achieve. That made the sense of accomplishment all the greater when I could actually see the signal in the data. Of course, it did not work from the start. We faced various problems, including the signal we wanted being buried beneath other signals. We reviewed our measurement methods and equipment, considered the possible causes one by one, and kept making improvements. Persistence, together with the help of our collaborators and everyone supporting the experiments, eventually led to success.<\/p>\n
That experience taught me that even something considered difficult can become more achievable through a series of thoughtful improvements. It still gives me encouragement whenever I face a new challenge.<\/p>\n
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Figure 2. Photograph of part of the experimental setup used to investigate the properties of materials with laser-driven neutrons.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
What principles guide the way you approach research?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
I try not to rule out a possibility simply because it seems difficult. But believing that something should be possible is not enough to move forward. I need to think carefully about what makes it difficult, identify what could be changed, and start by trying what I can. That is the approach I want to maintain. At the same time, I want to be honest about the results rather than hold too tightly to my own ideas. When a result differs from what I expected, I should consider which parts of my thinking need to change, instead of interpreting it to suit my expectations. I believe research needs both persistence and the flexibility to revise our ideas.<\/p>\n
Research is also something we cannot do alone. I value listening to others and asking openly for help when I do not understand something. Studying abroad and working with collaborators have shown me how much we can gain by learning from people with different backgrounds and areas of expertise.<\/p>\n
What kind of researcher and teacher would you like to become?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
I want to pursue questions that I find interesting while doing work that benefits other researchers or society. Even if a project does not immediately produce a major result, something I discover or a measurement method I develop might help the next person take on a new challenge. That is the kind of research I hope to build on over time.<\/p>\n
As a teacher, I want to support students in thinking for themselves and taking on challenges. Rather than simply giving them answers, I hope to discuss why they think a certain way and what they would like to test next. Many teachers and senior students supported me, and now I would like to help students grow in the same way. I also want to keep learning alongside them.<\/p>\n
What would you say to students who hope to pursue research?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
If something catches your interest or makes you want to know more, I hope you will hold on to that curiosity. You do not need to have all the knowledge or confidence at the start; you will be able to do more as you learn. Before turning away from something because it looks difficult, try reading about it or talking to someone who knows about it.<\/p>\n
In research, effort does not always lead to results straight away. When that happens, I hope you will talk with the people around you and look for your own next step, rather than struggle alone. I have had to go through many rounds of trial and error before a measurement finally worked. I hope you, too, will experience the joy of seeing something you have thought through and tested for yourself lead to a new discovery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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