Frederic Ives Medal / Jarus W. Quinn Prize
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Frederic Ives Medal / Jarus W. Quinn Prize
Recognizing overall distinction in optics, this is the highest award of the Society.
The medal was endowed in 1928 by Herbert E. Ives, a distinguished charter member and 1924 - 1925 Society President, to honor his father for his pioneering contributions to color photography, three-color process printing, and other branches of applied optics. The prize is funded by the Jarus W. Quinn Ives Medal Endowment raised by members and staff at the time of Quinn's retirement in recognition of his 25 years of service as the Society's first Executive Director.
Winners
2024
For pioneering contributions and visionary leadership in the field of semiconductor lasers and optoelectronics, and a dedication to training and educating future generations
2023
For pioneering contributions to nonlinear optics, including slow light, quantum imaging, and the development of nanocomposite optical materials and metamaterials
2022
For pioneering contributions in advancing the science and technology of quantitative interferometric metrology, his leadership as an educator and entrepreneur, and his visionary service to the global optics and photonics community.
2021
For seminal and wide-ranging contributions to optical physics, quantum electronics and nanophotonics
2020
For fundamental contributions to ultrafast lasers technology, especially in the development of high peak and average power oscillators and important breakthroughs in attosecond science
2019
For diverse and deep contributions to optical science including photonic crystals, strained semiconductor lasers, and new record-breaking solar cell physics
2018
For basic contributions and leadership in the development of integrated optics, high-speed optical modulation and switching, and configurable WDM networks that have provided significant economic and societal impact
2017
For pioneering and sustained contributions to ultrafast science ranging from femtosecond lasers to soft x-ray high-harmonic generation to attosecond studies of atoms, molecules and surfaces
2016
For numerous pioneering contributions to the development of ultrafast and ultrahigh intensity laser science and for outstanding leadership of the international and commercial communities impacted by these technologies
2015
For pioneering the field of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and for leading the field to widespread medical application and major commercial impact
2014
For outstanding contributions to the foundation of the fields of attosecond science, high-harmonic spectroscopy and molecular optics
2013
For carrying out pioneering research on photons and atoms shedding light on the most intriguing quantum phenomena and prompting the development of the new field of quantum information
2012
For lifetime leadership in groundbreaking research on all aspects of quantum optics including the quantum theory of the laser, quantum coherence effects, quantum thermodynamics and the foundations of quantum mechanics
2011
For pioneering research in high-speed modulators, ridge waveguide lasers and wavelength-division-multiplexed optical networks, and each has had a profound impact on modern communication systems
2010
For many important research contributions to quantum optics and optical physics, his leadership as a teacher and educator, and his tireless and visionary service to the optics community
2009
For pioneering contributions to optical science and the commercial development of optical technologies and for wide-ranging leadership activities within the optics community
2008
For his immense contribution to optics through pioneering research in quantum optics and by his unique combination of educational, organization and leadership skills
2007
For sustained innovation, discovery and leadership in the interaction of radiation with atoms and for his service and general educational activities
2006
For laying the foundations of ultrafast science and engineering and providing vision and sustained leadership to the optics community
2005
For seminal contributions and landmark advances in optical science and atomic physics, including narrow-band dye lasers, Doppler-free laser spectroscopy, laser cooling of atomic gases, precision spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen, frequency metrology with optical combs, and new physics with cold atoms in optical lattices
2004
For development of laser-manipulated quantum engineering at the single-atom level and application of these methods to quantum logic systems, atomic frequency standards, and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics
2003
For pioneering contributions to quantum optics, including the development of the micromaser and the demonstration of Wigner crystallization of laser-cooled ions
2002
For numerous seminal contributions and fundamental insights into quantum electronics, including construction of the first maser, the concept of confocal laser resonators, optical solitons, and quantum effects in communications systems
2000
Aleksandr Mikhailovish Prokhorov *
For his distinguished contributions and monumental role over the past 45 years in creating and developing quantum electronics
1999
For pioneering work in nonlinear optics, XUV lasers and laser spectroscopy, from electromagnetically induced transparency and lasing without inversion to nonlinear optics at maximal coherence
1998
For his pioneering work on the manipulation of particles with light, including the invention of the "optical tweezers" trap and his studies of radiation forces on atoms and for important contributions to nonlinear optics
1997
For his leadership and contributions to lightwave science and technology, ranging from fundamental studies of modes in laser resonators to remarkable implementations of advanced optical communications systems
1996
For five decades of major contributions to the field of optics, including research, education and administration, but especially for his inspiring creativity in optical physics, from quantum electronics to airborne infrared astronomy
1995
To recognize fundamental contributions to the understanding of human color vision, and for leadership in teaching and in service to the vision community
1994
For his fundamental and seminal contribution to the understanding of quantum noise in optical systems and for a lifetime of dedication to science and engineering education
1993
In recognition of his contributions to coherence theory and to the fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics and the nature of the photon
1992
In recognition of his many pioneering contributions to the field of nonlinear optics, as well as his service to the optics community
1991
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to laser frequency stabilization, innovations in high resolution laser spectroscopy, and high accuracy tests of fundamental physical laws
1990
For his outstanding technical contributions to the field of coherent optics and for his equally important and continuing contributions to modern optics education and to scientific communication
1989
In recognition of his illustrious career in optics and materials sciences and his exemplary service in scientific management
1988
For outstanding contributions to the field of optics and quantum electronics, particularly the first demonstration of optical picosecond pulses using mode-locked lasers, and pioneering contributions to the application of lasers in industry and scientific research
1987
For contribution to the field of quantum electronics, particularly research on unstable resonators and mode-locked lasers, as well as contributions to the education of a generation of optical scientists
1986
For his numerous pioneering contributions to lasers, optoelectronics, and phase conjugate optics
1985
For contributions to modern holography, information processing, and electromagnetics
1983
For his contributions to high resolution Raman spectroscopy, nonlinear optics and the applications of nonlinear optics to atomic and molecular spectroscopy
1982
In recognition of a lifetime of pioneering in electrophysiological, psychophysical, and other studies of the visual process; his years of public service in the field of vision; and his genius for inspiring generations of students to create their own distinguished careers in vision
1981
G. Hass *
In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of the structure and behavior of evaporated thin films and the application of these films to reflective and anti-reflective coatings for both the visible and the ultraviolet spectral regions
1980
For his contributions to thermal solar energy, analysis of the principles of coherently combined, independent telescopes, and the leadership he has given to several major optical and astronomical research centers
1979
In recognition of his achievement in establishing the theoretical framework of nonlinear optics, his sustained innovative contributions to the exploration of all aspects in the field of nonlinear optical phenomena, and his successes in the role of teacher and interpreter of science
1978
In recognition of his many unique contributions to the field of optics, including aberration theory, optical design, image evaluation, coherence theory, interferometry, and fiber optics
1977
For his many contributions to our understanding of electromagnetic theory and physical optics, particularly for his work in diffraction and the theory of partial coherence, and for his contributions to the tutorial literature as author and editor
1976
In recognition of his pioneering role in the invention of the laser, his continuing originality in the refinement of coherent optical sources, his productive vision in the application of optics to science and technology, his distinguished service to optics education and to the optics community, and his innovative contributions to the public understanding of optical science
* Deceased