Masanao Ozawa

Masanao Ozawa received his doctoral degree in science from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1979, where he studied mathematical physics, mathematical logic, philosophy of science, and quantum information science. His early studies in mathematical logic developed Gaisi Takeuti’s Boolean-valued analysis to settle Kaplansky’s conjecture in operator algebras using the forcing of cardinal collapsing in set theory. His early studies in mathematical physics established quantum measurement theory based on the notion of quantum instruments. He developed quantum measurement theory to settle the controversy in the 1980s on sensitivity limit for gravitational wave detection, by refuting the quantum limit derived by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. This established the supremacy of interferometers to be developed in the LIGO project over resonators, and later led him to reformulate Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle with a universally valid error-disturbance relation having been experimentally confirmed with neutrons and photons. He continues developing quantum measurement theory, and he is now extending his research interest to quantum set theory and quantum cognition. He has been serving as program committee members in international conferences and editorial board members for international journals in these research areas. He has held visiting positions at Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Pavia University. He is currently a Professor of Mathematical Science and Artificial Intelligence at Chubu University, and an Emeritus Professor at Nagoya University.  He received the Mathematical Society of Japan Prize in 2008, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in 2010, the International Quantum Communication Award in 2010. He received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 2015 and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2023 from the Cabinet Office of Japan.