The Commission on Laser Physics and Photonics (C17) was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics in 1975 (as Quantum Electronics) to promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in the general fields of Laser Physics, Photonics and Quantum Electronics.
The IUPAP Commission on Laser Physics and Photonics runs its Young Scientist Prizes every two years, recognizing early-career researchers of the very highest level of achievements in fundamental and applied research. The 2019 prizes have attracted multiple nominations from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom and the USA.
The 2019 IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Laser Physics and Photonics (Fundamental Aspects) has been awarded to Dr. Sergey Kruk, Nonlinear Physics Centre, Australian National University, Australia. Dr. Kruk has been awarded the prize “for his ground breaking contributions to the study of topological states of light at the nanoscale, particularly for his pioneering work on nonlinear and nonreciprocal effects in photonic nanostructures”. Dr. Kruk received his Diploma in Physics with High Distinction from the Belarusian State University in 2011, and his PhD in Physics from the Australian National University in 2015. Subsequently, he held the postdoctoral fellow position at the Australian National University until 2015, and is currently Research Fellow at the Australian National University, as well as Visiting Researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The 2019 IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Laser Physics and Photonics (Applied Aspects) was shared by Dr. Alireza Marandi, Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, USA, and Dr. Jinyang Liang, Institut national de la recherche scientifique – Centre Énergie, Matériaux, Télécommunication (INRS-EMT), Canada.
Dr. Marandi is awarded “for contributions to nonlinear photonics, particularly his pioneering work on computing with networks of OPOs and demonstration of optical Ising machines, as well as half-harmonic generation of mid-infrared frequency combs.” Dr. Marandi received his PhD from Stanford University in 2013, and went on to hold various positions at the National Institute of Informatics (Japan), Stanford University and Dolby Laboratories Inc. (USA). He is currently Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics at the California Institute of Technology, Visiting Scholar at the E. L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University and Visiting Professor at the National Institute of Informatics.
Dr Jinyang Liang, receiving the medal and certificate from C17 Commission Chair, Prof Ozaki is awarded “for his outstanding contributions that apply coded-aperture optical imaging to ultrafast visualization and ultra-precise modulation of laser beam/pulse profiles”. Dr. Liang received his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012 under the supervision of Prof. Michael F. Becker. He then took on postdoctoral positions with Prof. Lihong V. Wang, first at the Washington University in St. Louis and later at the California Institute of Technology. He is currently Assistant Professor at the INRS-EMT near Montreal, Canada.
An award ceremony was held during CLEO-Europe on the 25 June 2019 in Munich, Germany. Our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the C17 Young Scientist Prizes 2019!
Award for “Applied Aspects”
Award for “Fundamental Aspects”
