2026 Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award Winner
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Optica Names Hoi-Kwong Lo 2026Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award Recipient
Optica is pleased to announce that Hoi-Kwong Lo, Department of Physics, National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), Singapore, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award. Lo is recognized for distinguished contributions to the applications of quantum optics, quantum information science, including the invention of decoy-state QKD, measurement-device-independent QKD, and all-photonic quantum repeater.
Lo received his BA in mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge University and PhD in physics from Caltech. After working at various institutions (the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, Hewlett-Packard Labs, Bristol, UK, and MagiQ Technologies, Inc, New York), he joined the University of Toronto as an Associate Professor. He was promoted to Full Professorship in 2009. Previously, he was a Research Division Director and Chair Professor at the University of Hong Kong. He co-founded Quantum Bridge Technologies, Inc, a leading quantum start-up on quantum-safe communication.
Lo has made important contributions to quantum information and quantum cryptography. He is particularly well-known for co-inventing measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD). His research group was the first to experimentally demonstrate the decoy-state protocol and to hack successfully a commercial quantum key distribution system.
He was among the first in the world to establish three fundamental results: 1) to prove the information-theoretic security of quantum key distribution (QKD), 2) to co-invent quantum secret sharing, and 3) to prove the impossibility of quantum bit commitment. In addition, he co-developed the standard GLLP (Gottesman-Lo-Lütkenhaus-Preskilll) security model of QKD, and his research group proved the information-theoretic security of the decoy state protocol.
He is a Fellow of Optica, APS, and IEEE. His additional awards include the CAP-INO Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Applied Photonics, the IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award, and the QCMC International Quantum Award.
Established in 2023, this award honors Leonard Mandel for his seminal contributions to the field of quantum optics and for advancing our understanding of the quantum aspects of light. It recognizes distinguished contributions to the foundations of statistical and quantum optics, and/or applications in advanced technologies.
About Optica
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica's renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement.
Teaching Photo Credit: Centre for Quantum Technologies National University of Singapore
