View source for Physics:Charles Hard Townes Award

The '''Charles Hard Townes Award''' of [[Organization:Optica (society)|Optica]] is a prize for quantum electronics, including laser physics. Awarded annually since 1981, it is named after the Nobel Prize-winning laser pioneer [[Biography:Charles H. Townes|Charles H. Townes]].<ref>[http://www.osa.org/awards_and_grants/awards/award_description/charlestownes/ official Webpage of the Prize] at The Optical Society</ref><ref name="Townes Award">{{cite journal | title=OSA establishes award in honor of Charles Townes | journal=Physics Today | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=33 | issue=12 | year=1980 | issn=0031-9228 | doi=10.1063/1.2913866 | pages=56}}</ref>

Former winners include Nobel Prize laureates [[Biography:John L. Hall|John L. Hall]], [[Biography:Claude Cohen-Tannoudji|Claude Cohen-Tannoudji]], [[Biography:Serge Haroche|Serge Haroche]], [[Biography:Arthur Ashkin|Arthur Ashkin]], and [[Biography:Gérard Mourou|Gérard Mourou]].

== Recipients ==

{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Recipient
!Citation
|-
| 2023 || Andrew M. Weiner
| "For ground-breaking work bringing optical frequency combs to the quantum world and developing innovative applications spanning several fields, including coherent control, generation and line-by-line manipulation of frequency combs, and ultrabroadband radio-frequency photonics."
|-
| 2022 || Girish Saran Agarwal
| "For discoveries in theoretical quantum optics especially vacuum-induced coherences, photon-added coherent states, nonclassical cat states for qubits via engineered many-body interactions, and transparency in optomechanical systems."
|-
|2021
|[[Biography:Mikhail Lukin|Mikhail Lukin]]<ref>[https://www.physics.harvard.edu/news/prof-lukin-received-osa%C2%A0charles-hard-townes-medal%C2%A0 "Prof. Lukin Received the OSA Charles Hard Townes Medal" (Harvard Physics Department, February 11, 2021)]</ref>
|"For his pioneering theoretical and experimental contributions to quantum nonlinear optics and quantum information science and technology, and for the development and application of nanoscale quantum systems for sensing."
|-
| 2020 || [[Biography:Toshiki Tajima|Toshiki Tajima]]
| "For seminal contributions in broad and novel plasma physics and laser-based accelerator physics, introducing the concept of Laser Wakefield Acceleration."
|-
| 2019 || Alexander L. Gaeta
| "For seminal contributions to chip-based nonlinear photonics, nonlinear optics in photonic crystal fibers, and nonlinear propagation of ultrashort laser pulses."
|-
| 2018 || {{ill|Peter Fritschel|de}}<ref name="Fritschel">{{cite web | title=MKI's Peter Fritschel, PhD '92, receives the Optical Society's 2018 Charles Hard Townes Award | website=MIT Department of Physics | date=19 June 2018 | url=http://web.mit.edu/physics/news/spotlight/20180619_fritschel.html | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
| "For advances in quantum-limited precision measurement in the Advanced LIGO detectors, leading to the first direct detection of gravitational waves."
|-
| 2017 || {{ill|Adolf Giesen|de|Adolf Giesen (Physiker)}}
| "For pioneering breakthroughs in the field of solid-state lasers by the invention of and fundamental contributions to thin disk lasers."
|-
| 2016 || [[Biography:Robert W. Boyd|Robert W. Boyd]]<ref name="Boyd">{{cite web | title=Robert Boyd wins 2016 Charles Hard Townes Award | website=Canada Excellence Research Chairs &#124; Chaires d'excellence en recherche du Canada | date=29 November 2012 | url=http://www.cerc.gc.ca/news_room-salle_de_presse/2016/boyd-prix-Townes-award-eng.aspx | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
| "For fundamental contributions to the field of nonlinear optics, including the development of methods for controlling the velocity of light, of quantum imaging methods, and of composite nonlinear optical materials."
|-
| 2015 || Ursula Keller<ref name="Keller">{{cite web| title=May 13 - Ursula Keller receives the 2015 Charles H. Townes Award of OSA| website=NCCR MUST| url=http://www.nccr-must.ch/nccr_must/news_4.html?3072| access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
| "For seminal contributions in the fields of octave-spanning lasers, frequency comb technology, and high repetition-rate ultrafast semiconductor disc lasers."
|-
| 2014 || Masataka Nakazawa
| "For seminal contributions to the science and applications of ultrafast optics and ultrastable narrow-linewidth lasers."
|-
| 2013 || {{ill|Günter Huber|de|Günter Huber (Physiker)}}<ref name="Huber">{{cite web | title=Professor Huber receives Charles Hard Townes Award 2013 | website=CUI – The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging | url=http://www.cui.uni-hamburg.de/en/2013/05/professor-huber-receives-charles-hard-townes-award-2013/ | access-date=8 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013253/http://www.cui.uni-hamburg.de/en/2013/05/professor-huber-receives-charles-hard-townes-award-2013/ | archive-date=9 October 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| "For seminal contributions to solid state lasers, in particular the growth, development, and fundamental characterization of new laser materials based on laser active transition metal and rare earth ions."
|-
| 2012 || {{ill|Philippe Grangier|fr|Philippe Grangier|de}}
| "For breakthroughs in fundamental quantum optics, based on invention and/or development of experimental methods and techniques, and leading to groundbreaking applications in quantum information."
|-
| 2011 || Wilson Sibbett
| "For pioneering breakthroughs in the science and technology of ultrashort optical pulses including generation, measurement and the development of practical sources for applications in photophysics, photochemistry, photomedicine, engineering and communications."
|-
| 2010 || Atac Imamoglu
| "For his seminal contribution to electromagnetically induced transparency and pioneering work on quantum information processing with quantum dots."
|-
| 2009 || [[Biography:Gérard Mourou|Gérard Mourou]]<ref name="Mourou">{{cite web | title=Gérard Mourou – Center for Ultrafast Optical Science | website=Center for Ultrafast Optical Science – Information about the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science | date=6 February 2012 | url=https://cuos.engin.umich.edu/researchgroups/hfs/profiles/gerard-mourou/ | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> [[File:Nobel prize medal.svg|21px|link=Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics (2018)]]
| "For ground-breaking applications of high-intensity lasers to precision micromachining, eye surgery and relativistic light-matter interactions."
|-
| 2008 || Robert R. Alfano
| "For contributions to the discovery and investigation of supercontinuum generation and the development of tetravalent chromium-based tunable solid state lasers."
|-
| 2007 || [[Biography:Serge Haroche|Serge Haroche]]<ref name="Haroche">{{cite journal | title=OSA names recipients of awards, medals | journal=Physics Today | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=60 | issue=7 | year=2007 | issn=0031-9228 | doi=10.1063/1.2761812 | pages=75–76| bibcode=2007PhT....60g..75. }}</ref> [[File:Nobel prize medal.svg|21px|link=Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics (2012)]]
| "For pioneering experiments in cavity quantum electrodynamics, starting with the observation of superradiance, leading to the twophoton maser, non-destructive measurements of photons, and decoherence of Schrödinger cats."
|-
| 2006 || {{ill|Orazio Svelto|it|Orazio Svelto|de|Orazio Svelto|mg}}<ref name="Svelto">{{cite journal | title=OSA hands out awards, medals | journal=Physics Today | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=59 | issue=11 | year=2006 | issn=0031-9228 | doi=10.1063/1.2435655 | pages=72–73| bibcode=2006PhT....59k..72. }}</ref>
| "For pioneering work on ultrashort laser pulses and solid state lasers, and for the invention of the hollow-fiber compressor, leading to advances in extreme nonlinear optics and attosecond science."
|-
| 2005 || Paul Corkum  [[File:Israel Half Sheqel 1986 Special Edition Obverse.gif|21px|link=Harvey Prize|Harvey Prize (2013)]]
| "For key contributions to the understanding of the physics of atoms and molecules in intense laser fields and the application of these ideas to ultra-fast measurement techniques."
|-
| 2004 || [[Biography:Erich P. Ippen|Erich P. Ippen]]
| "For his many outstanding, pioneering and sustained contributions to ultrafast science and technology, and fundamental nonlinear optics."
|-
| 2003 || David C. Hanna
| "For seminal contributions to the development of coherent light sources and for leadership within the worldwide optics community."
|-
| 2002 || [[Biography:Charles V. Shank|Charles V. Shank]]
| "For the development of ultra short lasers from the near-infrared to x-rays, and their application to condensed-matter problems in chemistry, physics, and biology."
|-
| 2001 || [[Biography:A. David Buckingham|A. David Buckingham]]
| "For many theoretical and experimental contributions to electro-optics and magneto-optics, including the invention and application of a direct method for measuring molecular electric quadruple moments."
|-
| 2000 || {{ill|Richard G. Brewer|de|Richard George Brewer|pt|Richard George Brewer}}
| "For his outstanding contributions to quantum optics, characterized by originality and diversity, involving the interplay of theory and elegant experiments to elucidate fundamental problems of coherent optical transients, using atoms, molecules, solids and trapped ions."
|-
| 1999 || [[Biography:Charles H. Henry|Charles H. Henry]]
| "For fundamental contributions to the understanding of the optical properties of quantum wells, semiconductor lasers, and advanced photonic technologies."
|-
| 1998 || Marlan O. Scully<ref name="Scully">{{cite journal | title=Awards Given at 'Physics Without Borders' Meeting | journal=Physics Today | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=51 | issue=6 | year=1998 | issn=0031-9228 | doi=10.1063/1.2805864 | pages=88| bibcode=1998PhT....51Q..88. }}</ref>
| "For his role in laying the theoretical foundation for laser science, free-electron lasers, and lasers without inversion."
|-
| 1997 || [[Biography:Linn F. Mollenauer|Linn F. Mollenauer]]
| "For pioneering ultrafast optics in the 1.5 μm wavelength regime, demonstrating optical soliton propagation in fibers, and developing innovative soliton systems that have set records for high-capacity repeaterless data transmission."
|-
| 1996 || Chung Liang Tang<ref name="Tang">{{cite journal | title=OSA Names Award Recipients for 1996 | journal=Physics Today | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=49 | issue=3 | year=1996 | issn=0031-9228 | doi=10.1063/1.2807554 | pages=119| bibcode=1996PhT....49R.119. }}</ref>
| "For seminal and pioneering advances in the field of nonlinear optics and laser physics."
|-
| 1995 || {{ill|Ivan P. Kaminow|de}} [[File:JohnWHowellEdisonMedal1924.jpg|20px|link=IEEE Edison Medal|IEEE Edison Medal (2013)]]
| "For outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of quantum electronics over the past 40 years, which include pioneering the invention and development of titanium-diffused LiNb03 waveguides and revolutionary innovations in electro-optic modulators."
|-
| 1994 || [[Biography:Joseph H. Eberly|Joseph H. Eberly]]
| "For his contributions to theoretical optical physics, in particular, his work on coherent pulse propagation and superra-diance, atomic radiation theory, cavity quantum electrodynamics, and multiphoton intense field phenomena."
|-
| 1993 || {{nowrap| [[Biography:Claude Cohen-Tannoudji|Claude Cohen-Tannoudji]] [[File:Nobel prize medal.svg|21px|link=Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics (1997)]] [[File:Israel Half Sheqel 1986 Special Edition Obverse.gif|21px|link=Harvey Prize|Harvey Prize (1996)]] }}
| "For his contributions to optical pumping and his development of the dressed atom method for describing electromagnetic interactions with matter."
|-
| 1992 || {{nowrap| [[Biography:Nick Holonyak|Nick Holonyak]] [[File:JohnWHowellEdisonMedal1924.jpg|20px|link=IEEE Edison Medal|IEEE Edison Medal (1989)]] 21px|link=National Medal of Science|National Medal of Science (1990) [[File:National Medal of Technology and Innovation.jpg|20px|link=National Medal of Technology and Innovation|National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2002)]] }}
| "For his career in quantum electronics, particularly his contributions to semiconducting, light-emitting sources."
|-
| 1991 || {{ill|Elias Snitzer|de}}
| "For his pioneering contributions to solid state lasers and fiber optics, in particular, neodymium-glass and erbium-glass lasers, the first fiber optic laser, and for innovative contributions to fiber optic amplifiers and fiber optic lasers."
|-
| 1990 || [[Biography:Herbert Walther|Herbert Walther]]
| "For his fundamental contributions to the quantum electronics of atoms and molecules."
|-
| 1989 || Daniel Joseph Bradley [[File:1915-half-sov-reverse.png|22px|link=Royal Medal|Queen's Medal (1983)]]
| "For his pioneering contributions to the fields of nonlinear optics, the physics of dye lasers, and the generation and detection of ultrashort light pulses."
|-
| 1988 || [[Biography:Arthur Ashkin|Arthur Ashkin]]<ref name="Askhin">{{cite journal| last=Marynowski| first=Margaret| title=CLEO '88 To Be Held In Anaheim| journal=Physics Today| publisher=AIP Publishing| volume=41| issue=4| year=1988| issn=0031-9228| doi=10.1063/1.2811385| pages=75–76| bibcode=1988PhT....41d..75M}}</ref> [[File:Nobel prize medal.svg|21px|link=Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics (2018)]]
| "For original, creative, experimental, and theoretical work that initiated the study of laser radiation pressure and for continuing exceptional contributions."
|-
| 1987 || Hermann A. Haus<ref name="Haus">{{cite journal| last=Marynowski| first=Margaret| title=CLEO and IQEC in Baltimore| journal=Physics Today| publisher=AIP Publishing| volume=40| issue=3| year=1987| issn=0031-9228| doi=10.1063/1.2819949| pages=62–63| bibcode=1987PhT....40c..62M}}</ref> [[File:National Medal of Science.jpg|21px|link=National Medal of Science|National Medal of Science (1995)]]
| "For his analysis of laser noise, the development of the mode-locked semiconductor laser, and contributions to our understanding of nonlinear waveguide interactions."
|-
| 1986 || [[Biography:Yuen-Ron Shen|Yuen-Ron Shen]]
| "For his pioneering and continuing contributions to the field of nonlinear optics."
|-
| 1985 || [[Biography:Stephen E. Harris|Stephen E. Harris]] [[File:Israel Half Sheqel 1986 Special Edition Obverse.gif|21px|link=Harvey Prize|Harvey Prize (2007)]]
| "For his contributions to the development of techniques for the generation of extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray radiation."
|-
|rowspan=2| 1984 || {{nowrap| {{ill|Veniamin P. Chebotaev|ru|Чеботаев, Вениамин Павлович|de|Weniamin Pawlowitsch Tschebotajew}} }}
|rowspan=2| "In recognition of independent pioneering efforts and continuing contributions in the field of laser metrology, ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy, and ultrastable laser sources."
|-
| [[Biography:John L. Hall|John L. Hall]] [[File:Nobel prize medal.svg|21px|link=Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics (2005)]]
|-
| 1983 || {{ill|Robert W. Hellwarth|ja|ロバート・ヘルワース|de}}
| "For his invention of the Q-switched laser, codiscovery of the Raman laser and explanation of stimulated scattering phenomena, and the theory of optical phase conjugation."
|-
| 1982 || {{nowrap| Chandra Kumar N. Patel<ref name="Patel">{{cite journal | title=Kumar Patel receives Townes Award | journal=Physics Today | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=35 | issue=8 | year=1982 | issn=0031-9228 | doi=10.1063/1.2915222 | pages=65–66}}</ref> [[File:MinifloatMultiplication 1 3 2 3 72.png|20px|link=IEEE Medal of Honor (1989)]] }}
| "For his pioneering contributions to quantum electronics, including the discovery of many gaseous laser systems, particularly to the CO<sub>2</sub> laser; his invention and development of the spin-flip Raman laser; his high-resolution studies for pollution detection in the atmosphere; and his contributions to acousto-optic techniques for measuring small optical absorptions."
|-
|rowspan=2| 1981 || [[Biography:James P. Gordon|James P. Gordon]]
|rowspan=2| "For their contributions to the successful operation of the first quantum-electronics device, the ammonia maser."
|-
| Herbert Zeiger
|}

==See also==

* [[Physics:List of physics awards|List of physics awards]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
[https://www.optica.org/get_involved/awards_and_honors/awards/award_descriptions/charlestownes/ Official website of the prize]

[[Category:Quantum electronics]]

{{Sourceattribution|Charles Hard Townes Award}}