Nominators must complete a nominee submission by May 31 with the following:
The IEEE Photonics Society Laser Instrumentation Award recognizes key contributors to the field for developments of laser-based and electro-optical instruments, which lead to the development of innovative systems enabling major new measurements or process capabilities of relevance to applications in industrial, biomedical avionic and metrology fields.
Presented to: An Individual or team, up to three in number
Scope: To recognize key contributors to the field for developments of laser-based and electro-optical instruments, which lead to the development of innovative systems enabling major new measurements or process capabilities of relevance to applications in industrial, biomedical avionic and metrology fields.
Prize: A Certificate and Honorarium
Basis for judging: The field(s) to be considered are classical and Self-Mixing Laser Interferometry, Optical Coherence Tomography, Digital Holography, Diffraction and Interference-based Measuring Devices like Particle Size Analyzers, Laser Interferometers, Optical Gyroscopes, and Laser Doppler Velocimeters, Measurements of distance and kinematic quantities, realized in either bulk-optics or integrated optics technologies. Measurements for the sole characterization of optical devices or fibers are not eligible.
We are proud to recognize and celebrate honorees of the IEEE Photonics Society Laser Instrumentation Award.
For pioneering and sustained contributions to laser feedback interferometry using terahertz quantum cascade lasers.
Aleksandar D. Rakić is a Professor at The University of Queensland, where he leads the Photonics Engineering Group. His research focuses on the development of advanced sensing and imaging technologies across the electromagnetic spectrum, including microwave, terahertz, and optical domains.
Rakić group has pioneered several world-first laser-feedback interferometric sensors, based on monolithic Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) arrays, blue-green lasers, terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers, and mid-infrared Interband Cascade Lasers. His current work centres on terahertz-based sensing and imaging systems for applications ranging from biomedical diagnostics to security. He has also made significant contributions to the design and characterisation of surface-emitting optoelectronic devices such as VCSELs and LEDs.
Professor Rakić has held international academic appointments as Invited Professor at the University of Toulouse (2007–2016) and Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds (2012). His leadership roles include General Chair of COMMAD 2004, Co-Chair of the Symposium on Molecular and Organic Electronics at ICONN 2006, Chair of the Compound Semiconductor Symposium at ICEM 2008, and Chair of the IEEE AP/MTT Queensland Chapter.
| Year | Award Winner | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Robert R. Alfano | For the discovery of supercontinuum light source as an enabling technology for diverse applications and tunable Cr4 and Cr3 lasers. |
| 2023 | Javier Garcia Monreal Zeev Zalevsky | For eminent impact to the field of laser based enhanced remote bio-sensing and its usage for photonic medical diagnosis. |
| 2022 | Franz X. Kärtner | For development and commercialization of femtosecond pulsed optical timing distribution systems for large-scale science facilities. |
| 2021 | Scott Diddams Andrew ‘AJ Metcalf Conner Fredrick | For development, deployment, and operation of an electro-optic laser frequency comb that enables the most precise near-infrared astronomical Doppler spectroscopy. |
| 2020 | Juergen Czarske | For pioneering and sustained contributions to laser Doppler velocimetry, distance and kinematic instruments, and digital holographic sensing. |