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Celebrating distinguished achievements and contributions.
Award | News Release
Optica and SPIE Announce 2024 Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award
Optica and SPIE have announced Ronald G. Driggers, Melvin H. Friedman, John W. Devitt, Orges Furxhi, and Anjali Singh as the 2024 recipients of the Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award for their Introduction to Infrared and Electro-Optical Systems, Third Edition.
The book, published in 2022 by Artech House, was chosen for its comprehensive coverage of system-level electro-optics, as well as the authors’ ability to explain the fundamental principles of infrared and electro-optical systems, providing a strong mathematical foundation and making it an invaluable resource for educational purposes. An associated website (photonicsproject.org), supplements the book with visual and interactive tools to reinforce the concepts and equations discussed in the text.
“Introduction to Infrared and Electro-Optical Systems is a well-conceived, polished, and highly informative book,” notes 2024 Goodman Book Writing Award Selection Committee Chair Matt Jungwirth. “The text contains a comprehensive treatment of the analysis and design of electro-optical imaging systems. The committee was especially attracted to the impact this text may have on the community due to its broad appeal and widespread topics.”
Award | News Release
Optica names recipients of 2024 Awards and Medals
Optica is pleased to announce the recipients of 20 of its 2024 awards and medals. These awards highlight outstanding technical, research, educational, business, leadership and service accomplishments.
"Congratulations to the 2024 Optica award and medal recipients, whose leadership, vision, and extraordinary contributions are advancing our field to new heights," said Gerd Leuchs, Optica's 2024 President. "In addition, my thanks to the dedication of my colleagues who nominated candidates, submitted references and served on award selection committees. We truly appreciate your support of this program."
Award | News Release
Kenichi Iga Receives the 2024 Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, has named Kenichi Iga, Professor Emeritus and former President of Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, the 2024 Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize recipient. Iga is recognized for pioneering contributions and visionary leadership in the field of semiconductor lasers and optoelectronics and a dedication to training and educating future generations. "Kenichi Iga fundamentally changed the field with his revolutionary work on VCSELs,” said Gerd Leuchs, Optica's 2024 President. "It is an honor to celebrate his lasting contributions.”
His work has significantly impacted high-speed communications. Since his first demonstration of a VCSEL in 1979 at Tokyo Tech, he has established the fundamental technical and theoretical bases for the lasers and inspired much research in the field. Today, approximately 75% of all telecommunications lasers sold are VCSELs.
Award | Honorary Members
Sir Peter L. Knight Named Honorary Member
Sir Peter L. Knight is internationally renowned for his ground-breaking quantum optics research. His investigations of quantum optics, strong field physics and nonclassical properties of light culminated in the theoretical foundations of quantum computing and quantum information science. In recognition of his influence within the international physics community, Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, has named Knight an Optica Honorary Member, the most distinguished of all Optica Member categories.
Knight is recognized for remarkable and varied contributions to quantum optics, ranging from foundations to applications, and his unique combination of educational, organizational, and globally active leadership skills. He is currently an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, UK; Chair of the UK National Quantum Technology Programme Strategic Advisory Board; and Chair of the National Physical Laboratory Quantum Metrology Institute.
"Peter's influence on our field has extended well beyond his pioneering quantum optics research. He is an outstanding leader, advisor, and mentor, bridging the gaps between academia, organizations, and governments," said Gerd Leuchs, Optica's 2024 President. "The quantum science and optics community benefits greatly from his service. We are proud to recognize him as an Optica Honorary Member."
Award | News Release
David Richardson Wins 2024 John Tyndall Award
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, and the IEEE Photonics Society have named David Richardson, Microsoft, UK, the 2024 recipient of the John Tyndall Award. Richardson is recognized for pioneering contributions to the development of optical fibers and their applications and commercialization in fiber lasers and optical communications. "His contributions to the field are not limited to his pioneering work," added Optica President Michal Lipson. "His leadership and service, including serving as a Technical Program Chair and General Chair for OFC, will benefit our community for years to come. It is a pleasure to recognize David's accomplishments with this award."
Award | News Release
Olga Kocharovskaya Named 2024 Herbert Walther Award Recipient
Optica and the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG) have named Olga Kocharovskaya, Texas A&M University (TAMU), USA, the recipient of the 2024 Herbert Walther Award. She is recognized for field-opening contributions to lasing without inversion and electromagnetically induced transparency and for theory and experiments that initiated the field of gamma-ray quantum optics.
A trailblazer in her field, Kocharovskaya was the first woman professor in the TAMU physics department, and she is the first woman to receive the Walther Award. A Fellow of Optica and the American Physical Society, she has received several additional honors, including the inaugural Willis Lamb Medal for Laser Physics and Quantum Electronics, the Association of Former Texas A&M Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Research and the Texas A&M University Distinguished Professor Award.
Award | News Release
Announcing the 2024 Optica Fellows Class
The Board of Directors of Optica recently elected 129 members from 26 countries to the Society’s 2024 Fellow Class. Optica Fellows are selected based on several factors, including outstanding contributions to research, business, education, engineering and service to Optica and our community.
“Congratulations to the 2024 class of Optica Fellows, ” said Michal Lipson 2023 Optica President. “It is a pleasure to honor these members who are advancing our field and society. We are grateful for their exceptional work and dedication.”
Award | News Release
Brelyon named 2023 Optica Paul F. Forman Team Engineering Excellence Award recipient
Brelyon, a company spun-off from the MIT Media Lab, took a new approach to displays, employing computational wavefront engineering designed to work with the physiology of the human eye. Optica recognizes Brelyon’s innovative engineering with the 2023 Paul F. Forman Team Engineering Excellence Award. They were selected “For introducing the world's first headset-free virtual monitor using computational optics to program the wavefront of the light in large scale.”
Award | News Release
Optica announces Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award
Optica announces the creation of the Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award to recognize distinguished contributions to the foundations of statistical and quantum optics and applications in advanced technologies. Established through the Optica Foundation, this award honors Mandel’s legacy in the field of quantum optics.
“Dr. Mandel's work has influenced the evolution of the field of statistical and quantum optics, from the formative book Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics that he wrote with Emil Wolf to his role in furthering the efforts of the broader community,” said Michal Lipson, Optica 2023 President. “This award extends that legacy by fueling next-generation quantum advancements.”
This award joins other Optica initiatives that support the rapidly expanding fields of quantum optics and quantum-enabled technologies, including the Quantum 2.0 conference, Optica Quantum, a new journal dedicated to highly selective results in quantum information science and technology, and the Theodor W. Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics, which focuses on early-career efforts and the applications of optics-enabled quantum technologies.
