Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan

A Greeting from the President

The mission of the Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan (CSSJ) is to advance science and technology related to cryogenic and superconducting engineering and contribute to creating more advanced future society. Our society has a long history, dating back to the informal meeting for Cryogenic Engineering that started in 1961. This meeting evolved into the incorporation of the 'Cryogenics Association of Japan(CAJ)' in 1966, which became the foundation of CSSJ. At that time, the development of superconducting materials had been just started, and the technology for achieving ultra-low temperature environments as industrial products was rapidly evolving. Since then, both superconducting engineering and cryogenic engineering have developed together up to today. The CAJ had been the only domestic academic organization covering both superconducting and cryogenic engineering. Due to reforms in public interest corporations, CAJ was renamed the Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan on April 1, 2011, marking a new start.

The most notable feature of superconductivity is the zero resistance. Nowadays, thanks to the development of materials that can handle large currents and high current densities, superconducting technology is being used in a wide range of applications such as medical MRI machines, huge accelerator facilities, the maglev trains being built by JR Tokai, and power transmission cables. Until now, most superconducting applications relied on cooling with liquid helium, but recently, superconducting systems using cuprate superconducting materials cooled with liquid nitrogen or refrigerators have been becoming more common. Along with this, more efficient refrigeration and cooling systems have been developed. On the other hand, superconducting electronics, which is based on macroscopic quantum effects of superconductivity, started with SQUID systems for precise magnetization measurements and is now being explored for future computer technology. To make the most of the high potential of superconducting science and technology in society, CSSJ has set the following seven priority areas as outlined below.

In the process of development, superconducting engineering and cryogenic engineering have necessarily integrated with technologies from related engineering fields, such as insulating materials, high-strength materials, and high-conductivity materials. As the range of applications expands in near future, interaction with more related fields and technologies will become important. In addition, training the next generation of professionals to enable continuous development is also a key issue. The CSSJ aims to be an organization where researchers and engineers across generations can broadly discuss from fundamental science and materials science related to superconductivity and cryogenic engineering to research and development for practical applications, and where engineers and researchers from surrounding fields, as well as overseas academic societies, can easily interact.

We appreciate your understanding of the background and purpose of CSSJ, and we look forward to any ideas or advice to help promote further development.

Junichi Shimoyama
President of Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan

Outline of CSSJ

• Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan (CSSJ) was established as a public interest incorporated association on April 1, 2011. The previous organization of CSSJ has been Cryogenic Association of Japan established in 1966, through the informal meeting for Cryogenic Engineering started on 1961.
• CSSJ Secretariat is located in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
• CSSJ mission is to provide quality programs, opportunities and information related to cryogenics and superconductivity technologies for communicating among members and non-members in response to community needs.
• We work under the President with nine excellent committees, two study commissions, one institute and three local branches located in Kyushu/Nishi-Nihon, Kansai, and Tohoku/Hokkaido.
• We mainly intend to publish the journal "Teion Kogaku", hold semi-annual CSSJ conferences, and meet with neighboring countries.
• As a result, we hope CSSJ will be attractive, hopeful and sustainable.

Vision Statement

• To advance cryogenic technologies and superconducting technologies for greater happiness and sustainable prosperity of people, by contributing to the overall advancement of scientific technology.
• To successively contribute to industrial promotion and personnel training in the cryogenics and superconductivity fields.

Five Missions

• To guide the directions for advancement, and play a leading role.
• To advance academic performance.
• To realize and develop the seven innovative domains, and thereby open up new attractive fields.
• To become internationalized.
• To foster personnel properties.

Action Indicators

• Envisioning a roadmap for the creation of cryogenics and superconductivity.
• Promotion of communication among citizens, societies, and scientists in other fields.
  • ① New diagnosis and medical sector for contributing toward healthier and longer lives.
  • ② New transportation sector for realizing high-speed, pleasant and energy-saving transportation.
  • ③ Creation, supply and usage of power and energy sector for contributing toward resolving energy problems
  • ④ Information and telecommunications sector for maintaining advanced information and telecommunications generations.
  • ⑤ Environment and space sector for expanding the known realms of human existence.
  • ⑥ Basic science and technology sector for opening up new abilities and opportunities for people
  • ⑦ Refrigeration and cooling sector for nurturing key technologies for commercial superconducting instruments
• Fostering international communication among countries and individuals, especially in Asia.
• Encouragement of junior scientists′ participation in society activities, coordination, and leadership promotion.