Joseph Fraunhofer Award / Robert M. Burley Prize

2024

Carmen S Menoni

For seminal contributions to the materials aspects and engineering of amorphous oxides for optical coatings of high intensity lasers and gravitational wave detectors

2023

Xiaoyi Bao

For seminal contributions to optical fiber-based systems ranging from telecom testing protocols and instruments, to pioneering work on distributed sensor instrumentation for infrastructure monitoring, to multi-parameter sensing probes for medical imaging

2022

Aydogan Ozcan

For seminal optical engineering contributions to computational optical imaging, lensfree microscopy, holography and mobile optical sensing.

2021

Zeev Zalevsky

For significant contributions to the field of optical super-resolution including the invention of many novel concepts bypassing Abbe’s limits of diffraction and the geometric limits set by the sensor

2020

Jannick P Rolland

For numerous creative and innovative applications in several fields of optical engineering including Astronomy, Medical Imaging, Augmented & Virtual Reality, Image Science, and Freeform Optics

2019

Juergen W Czarske

For seminal contributions to the field of digital interferometric and holographic sensors and their commercial applications

2018

Bahram Javidi

For seminal contributions to passive and active multi-dimensional imaging from nano- to micro- and macro-scales

2017

Yeshaiahu Fainman

For pioneering, seminal and wide ranging contributions to nanoscale engineering linear and nonlinear optical materials and devices for optical information processing systems

2016

Demetri Psaltis

For pioneering contributions to the field of photonics engineering, including founding the sub-field of optofluidics engineering

2015

Russell A Chipman

For his outstanding contributions in the development of metrology facilities for imaging polarimetry and spectro-polarimetry

2014

Juan Carlos C Miñano

For discovery of exceptional new design methods and devices in both nonimaging and imaging optics over more than three decades, with special emphasis in freeform surface design

2013

Wade Thomas Cathey, Jr. *

For seminal contributions to the field of computational optical imaging and its commercial application

2012

Hiroo Kinoshita

For pioneering research in the development of EUV reduction lithography with a multilayer-coated reflective imaging system and a reflective mask for use in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits

2011

James Howard Burge

For many clever developments in optical fabrication and testing and the education of optical engineering students

2010

Shin-Tson Wu

For exceptional contributions to optical engineering through liquid crystal displays, tunable photonics, and adaptive-focus lenses

2009

Roland Winston

For pioneering and continuous contributions to the field of nonimaging optics including the development of design methods and nonimaging devices for applications from solar energy to particle physics

2008

Ursula Keller

For seminal contributions to the development and application of ultrafast lasers and notably pioneering work on semiconductor saturable absorber mode-locking

2007

Roger P Angel

For innovation in optical systems development, including large astronomical telescope and mirror technology, methods for observing extrasolar planets, fiber-fed spectroscopy, adaptive optics, and a possible optical solution for global warming

2006

Susumu Noda

For fabricating some of the world’s most advanced photonic crystals and photonic crystal devices, working uncompromisingly at optical frequencies

2005

G. Michael Morris

For innovation in the design, theory, and application of diffractive and hybrid optical elements to solve a wide range of problems

2004

C. Randy Giles

For pioneering contributions to optical fiber communication including the engineering and application of the Erbium-doped fiber amplifier, fiber-Bragg-grating stabilized pump lasers, and MEMS optical cross-connects

2003

Yoshiki Ichioka

For important contributions to information processing and optical computing

2002

Daniel Malacara Hernandez, Sr.

For outstanding contributions to the art of interferometry and the science of optical testing passed on to posterity through his many publications and the education of his students. And for the establishment of several scientific institutions in Mexico

2001

Warren J Smith *

For providing a lifetime effort wherein he detailed the very essence of practical optical engineering and applied optics, with profoundly understandable contributions benefitting in large measure every optical engineer worldwide

2000

Philip St J Russell

For his invention of the photonic crystal fiber, an array of micron-spaced sub-micron holes allowing extremely large mode area single-mode fibers offering solid-core fibers with better power handling

1999

David F Welch

For significant contributions to the invention and development of advanced laser diode products. This work encompassed both device development and record-breaking demonstrations of high-power sources, including diode laser arrays, semiconductor amplifiers and singlemode waveguide laser diodes. He is recognized for the successful commercialization of over 50 high power semiconductor laser products, developed either directly from his research

1998

James R Leger

For pioneering contributions in the use of diffractive optical elements in laser resonator design and the coherent addition of beams from arrays of lasers including laser diodes. Through his applied research and publications, he stimulated new directions in the use of diffractive optics for beam combination and shaping that are finding widespread applications in many fields of optics

1997

William T Plummer

For his exceptional accomplishments in the field of optical engineering, for making state-of-the-art optical technology affordable, bringing extremely sophisticated optics into the consumer marketplace, and for his expertise and willingness to participate in all aspects of engineering from technology and product development to manufacturing

1996

Jerry Earl Nelson

For exceptionally creative optical design, engineering, and testing of the 10-meter Keck telescope segmented primary mirror. The ingenuity and accomplishments were the keystone of the world's largest and highest performance optical telescope

1995

Joseph H Apfel

For tireless efforts to simplify the theoretical underpinnings of optical thin films and for casting design rules into graphical forms that can be easily manipulated without extensive computations

1994

Isaak Ya Barsky

For outstanding work in the field of quantitative microscopy. Specifically, for the creation of new optical instruments for medicine and biology, thereby advancing the field of optical engineering

1994

Garry V Papayan

For outstanding work in the field of quantitative microscopy. Specifically, for the creation of new optical instruments for medicine and biology, thereby advancing the field of optical engineering

1993

Erwin G Loewen *

For recent fundamental technical contributions and teaching that have furthered the application of the principles of precision optical engineering, particularly with regard to the theory, design, and manufacture of diffraction grating structures

1992

James C Wyant *

For pioneering work in the development of optical testing technology

1991

James G Baker *

For his continuing exemplary and pioneering work in optical engineering, particularly the development of high performance non-rotationally symmetric optical systems

1990

Thomas I Harris *

For his fundamental contributions to the development of automated optical signal tools

1989

Parameswaran Hariharan *

For his pioneering scientific and engineering contributions to interferometry, laser speckle, and holography

1988

James M Burch

For pioneering work in all areas of modern optical design and testing, as well as a special understanding of the behavior of light in physical systems and the application of that knowledge to practical engineering purposes

1987

J. A Dobrowolski *

For development of numerical methods for the automatic design of optical multilayer coatings with pre-defined spectral characteristics, as well as methods for their practical realization

1986

David S Grey *

For contributions to the development of computer optimization techniques in lens design

1985

Peter K Runge

For contributions to the design of optical fiber connectors and the development of an undersea lightwave system

1984

Donald R Herriott *

For persistent and continued efforts toward perfecting the techniques of high resolution lithography

1983

Robert E Hopkins *

For his achievements in optical engineering, including the design, development, engineering and manufacturing of many optical instruments

1982

Robert M Burley *

For the unique leadership and technical contributions that he has given to the vast number of optical and electro-optical projects with which he has been associated during a career that began nearly 50 years ago