2024

Kenichi Iga

For pioneering contributions and visionary leadership in the field of semiconductor lasers and optoelectronics, and a dedication to training and educating future generations

2023

Robert W Boyd

For pioneering contributions to nonlinear optics, including slow light, quantum imaging, and the development of nanocomposite optical materials and metamaterials

2022

James C Wyant

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

Federico Capasso

For seminal and wide-ranging contributions to optical physics, quantum electronics and nanophotonics

2020

Ursula Keller

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

Eli Yablonovitch

For diverse and deep contributions to optical science including photonic crystals, strained semiconductor lasers, and new record-breaking solar cell physics

2018

Rod C Alferness

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

Margaret M Murnane

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

Gerard A Mourou

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

James G Fujimoto

For pioneering the field of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and for leading the field to widespread medical application and major commercial impact

2014

Paul B Corkum

For outstanding contributions to the foundation of the fields of attosecond science, high-harmonic spectroscopy and molecular optics

2013

Alain Aspect

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

Marlan O Scully

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

Ivan P Kaminow *

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

Joseph H Eberly

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

Robert L Byer

For pioneering contributions to optical science and the commercial development of optical technologies and for wide-ranging leadership activities within the optics community

2008

Peter L Knight

For his immense contribution to optics through pioneering research in quantum optics and by his unique combination of educational, organization and leadership skills

2007

Daniel Kleppner

For sustained innovation, discovery and leadership in the interaction of radiation with atoms and for his service and general educational activities

2006

Erich P Ippen

For laying the foundations of ultrafast science and engineering and providing vision and sustained leadership to the optics community

2005

Theodor W Haensch

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

David J Wineland

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

Herbert Walther *

For pioneering contributions to quantum optics, including the development of the micromaser and the demonstration of Wigner crystallization of laser-cooled ions

2002

James Gordon *

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

2001

Nick Holonyak, Jr. *

For pioneering work in the field of semiconductor lasers and LEDs

2000

Aleksandr Mikhailovish Prokhorov *

For his distinguished contributions and monumental role over the past 45 years in creating and developing quantum electronics

1999

Stephen E Harris

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

Arthur Ashkin *

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

Tingye Li *

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

Charles H Townes *

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

Robert M Boynton *

To recognize fundamental contributions to the understanding of human color vision, and for leadership in teaching and in service to the vision community

1994

Hermann A Haus *

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

Leonard Mandel *

In recognition of his contributions to coherence theory and to the fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics and the nature of the photon

1992

Robert W Terhune *

In recognition of his many pioneering contributions to the field of nonlinear optics, as well as his service to the optics community

1991

John L Hall

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

Joseph W Goodman

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

Chandra Kumar N Patel

In recognition of his illustrious career in optics and materials sciences and his exemplary service in scientific management

1988

Anthony J DeMaria

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

Anthony E Siegman *

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

Amnon Yariv

For his numerous pioneering contributions to lasers, optoelectronics, and phase conjugate optics

1985

Emmett N Leith *

For contributions to modern holography, information processing, and electromagnetics

1984

Herwig Kogelnik

For pioneering contributions to holography, lasers, and integrated optics

1983

Boris P Stoicheff *

For his contributions to high resolution Raman spectroscopy, nonlinear optics and the applications of nonlinear optics to atomic and molecular spectroscopy

1982

Lorrin A Riggs *

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

Aden B Meinel *

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

Nicolaas Bloembergen *

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

Harold H Hopkins *

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

Emil Wolf *

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

Arthur L Schawlow *

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

1975

Ali Javan *

For distinguished work in optics

1974

David L MacAdam *

For distinguished work in optics

1973

Rudolf Kingslake *

For distinguished work in optics

1972

R. Clark Jones *

For distinguished work in optics

1971

A. Francis Turner *

For distinguished work in optics

1970

Robert E Hopkins *

For distinguished work in optics

1969

David H Rank *

For distinguished work in optics

1968

Edward U Condon *

For distinguished work in optics

1967

Edwin H Land *

For distinguished work in optics

1966

George Wald *

For distinguished work in optics

1965

James G Baker *

For distinguished work in optics

1964

Gerhard Herzberg *

For distinguished work in optics

1963

Ralph A Sawyer *

For distinguished work in optics

1962

Max Herzberger *

For distinguished work in optics

1961

Seibert Q Duntley *

For distinguished work in optics

1960

Richard Tousey *

For distinguished work in optics

1959

W.E.K. Middleton *

For distinguished work in optics

1958

Deane B Judd *

For distinguished work in optics

1957

Arthur C Hardy *

For distinguished work in optics

1956

John Donovan Strong *

For distinguished work in optics

1955

Edward O Hulburt *

For distinguished work in optics

1954

Irvine C Gardner *

For distinguished work in optics

1953

Harrison M Randall *

For distinguished work in optics

1952

Ira S Bowen *

For distinguished work in optics

1951

Brian O'Brien *

For distinguished work in optics

1949

George R Harrison *

For distinguished work in optics

1947

William F Meggers *

For distinguished work in optics

1945

W. W Coblentz *

For distinguished work in optics

1943

Loyd A Jones *

For distinguished work in optics

1941

Selig Hecht *

For distinguished work in optics

1939

A. H Pfund *

For distinguished work in optics

1937

Herbert E Ives *

For distinguished work in optics

1935

George E Hale *

For distinguished work in optics

1933

R. W Wood *

For distinguished work in optics

1931

Theodore Lyman *

For distinguished work in optics

1929

Edward L Nichols *

For distinguished work in optics