William F. Meggers Award
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William F. Meggers Award
Presented for outstanding work in spectroscopy.
The award was established in 1970 to honor William Meggers for his notable contributions to the field of spectroscopy and metrology. It is endowed by the family of William Meggers, several individuals, and a number of optical manufacturers.
Winners
2024
For pioneering broadband molecular spectroscopy with interfering frequency combs
2023
For pioneering ultra-sensitive action spectroscopy with fundamental applications to spectra of molecular ions, particularly CH5+, and their key roles in astrochemistry
2022
For seminal developments in ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy, which have heavily influenced the chemical physics spectroscopy landscape.
2021
For expanding the horizons of impulsive stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS) to the generation of intense tunable terahertz pulses, thus establishing new transient-grating techniques for a more effective application of time-domain coherent nonlinear spectroscopy in the study of condensed phase molecular dynamics
2020
For seminal studies of the properties and dynamics of surfaces, interfaces, and nanoscale materials by diverse spectroscopic techniques, including through the development of powerful new methods
2019
For pioneering systematic studies of small transition-metal-containing molecules, including precise measurements of bond energies by the discovery and exploitation of sharp predissociation thresholds in highly congested electronic spectra
2018
For pioneering contributions in the fundamental science of optical and spin coherence and their synergistic applications in optical spectroscopy/microscopy and magnetic resonance spectroscopy/imaging through the development of pulse shaping techniques
2017
For developing the theoretical framework of coherent multidimensional spectroscopy for electronic excitations in the optical regime and proposing extensions to the x-ray spectral regime
2016
For the invention of the chirped- pulse Fourier transform microwave technique, which revolutionized rotational spectroscopy, leading to an explosion of novel spectroscopic, astrochemical, analytical, dynamical, and chemical kinetics applications
2015
For seminal contributions to precision photoassociation and magnetic-Feshbach spectroscopy of ultracold atoms, and the application of these techniques to the formation of cold polar molecules
2014
For outstanding achievements in high resolution atomic spectroscopy and metrology of fundamental constants, leading to far-reaching tests of quantum electrodynamics
2013
For contributions to precision measurements of nonsequential double ionization, exploration of strong field interaction scaling properties from mid-infrared to X-ray and innovative experiments of time-resolved molecular imaging
2012
For exceptional contributions to coherent generation and detection of ultra-broadband THz waves for far-infrared spectroscopy
2011
For contributions to the field of ultrafast spectroscopy of semiconductors, including multidimensional Fourier transform techniques, and for contributions to the development of femtosecond frequency comb technology
2010
For ground-breaking work on the ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy of Rydberg states of atoms and molecules, and for the refinement of high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy and its application to the determination of the structural and dynamical properties of molecular cations
2009
For seminal contributions to the development of diode lasers as powerful spectroscopic tools, development of femtosecond combs, and demonstration of unique quantum effects in the interaction between light and atoms
2008
For major contributions to the foundations of laser spectroscopy, and for pioneering developments in the application of spectroscopy to biomedicine
2007
For leadership in the development of innovative experiments providing major insights into the dynamics of the nonlinear response of atoms and molecules submitted to strong infrared laser pulses
2006
For development of innovative spectroscopic techniques based on femtosecond optical frequency combs
2005
For pioneering contributions to the molecular spectroscopy of transient species, including transition state spectroscopy by photo-detachment, the development of anion zero-electron-kinetic-energy spectroscopy and time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy
2004
For advancing molecular spectroscopy by experiment and theory on infrared- and Raman-ultraviolet double resonance, coherent Raman spectroscopy, cavity ringdown spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, and tunable coherent light sources
2003
For seminal contributions to the development and application of THz time-domain spectroscopy
2002
For seminal contributions to high-resolution, high accuracy laser spectroscopy with applications to fundamental metrology and clocks
2001
For pioneering work in the development of the submillimeter-wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum and its application to scientific problems in physics, chemistry, and astronomy
2000
For his work in the development and use of high resolution infrared spectroscopy in the study of loosely bonded clusters in the gas-phase as well as in liquid He droplets
1999
For his experimental and theoretical contributions to the understanding of the molecular structure and dynamics of weakly bound molecules through the use of high-resolution infrared laser spectroscopy
1998
For his important contributions to the theory of long-range molecular states, the spectroscopy of alkali-dimer and alkali-hydride diatomic molecules, and the theory of the stability of spin-polarized hydrogen. Recognition is also given to his leadership and teaching in the field of laser science and a lifetime of professional services to the scientific community
1997
For his contributions to experimental and theoretical high resolution molecular spectroscopy. As one example, his work on H3+ has revolutionized the field of infrared spectroscopy of molecular ions, but the breadth and quality of his work is such that all aspects of his distinguished career spanning 40 years have had a significant impact in the fields of chemistry, physics, and astrophysics
1996
For his invention of powerful high resolution spectroscopic methods, including stimulated emission pumping, which have found widespread application. These methods, combined with his definitive studies of perturbations in diatomic molecular spectra, have changed the way we think about molecular complexity
1995
For seminal contributions to the understanding of the nature of atomic and molecular negative ions (especially doubly-charged anions) and to the field of multiphoton excitation processes in the gas phase
1994
For pioneering work in manipulation, cooling, and trapping of neutral particles by laser light, and for the first optical spectroscopy of the short-lived laptonicatoms, positronium and muonium
1993
For the development of high resolution spectroscopy of molecular ions and radicals and the insightful interpretation of the resulting spectra
1992
For his outstanding research on complex atomic spectra and spectra of highly ionized atoms
1991
For his outstanding contributions to spectroscopy, including development of the hydrogen maser, spectroscopy of Rydberg states, and analysis of the interaction of atoms with electromagnetic fields
1990
For his conception of novel, high sensitivity, high accuracy, spectroscopic techniques, their realization, and their application to fundamental measurements
1989
For his novel analyses of spectroscopic phenomena in the framework of collision dynamics
1988
For contributions to the basic chemistry, spectroscopy, and physics of atomic and molecular negative ion spectroscopy
1987
For outstanding contributions to atomic spectroscopy, especially its application to the understanding of the physics of plasmas
1986
For contributions to atomic and molecular spectroscopy, particularly in the analysis of problems of astrophysical interest
1985
For his discoveries of powerful techniques for high-resolution laser spectroscopy, and their application to fundamental problems of physics, particularly through precision measurements on atomic hydrogen
1984
For his world-recognized contributions to the theory of atomic structure and spectra
1983
For his outstanding contributions to the understanding of the spectra of complex atoms and ions
1982
In recognition of both his theoretical and experimental contributions to a better understanding of the interaction of radiation with atoms, especially for his contributions to the development of the method of quantum-beat spectroscopy
1981
In recognition of his innovative use of lasers in spectroscopy, particularly his studies of stimulated and inverse Raman and Brillouin scattering and of highly excited atomic states
1980
In recognition of his leadership in the measurement and analysis of actinide crystal and atomic spectroscopy
1978
1977
1977
1976
In recognition of his contributions to atomic spectroscopy, particularly his studies of autoionization, diamagnetic Zeeman effects, and absorption of high Rydberg-series members
1975
1975
1974
1973
1972
For seminal contributions to atomic spectroscopy, including extensive studies of the Sun, and tables of atomic spectra and energy levels
1971
1970
* Deceased