Stanford Report, May 27, 2009

Robert Byer wins IEEE Photonics Award for work with lasers

Robert L. Byer

Robert L. Byer

ROBERT L. BYER, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor in the Department of Applied Physics, has won the 2009 IEEE Photonics Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The award recognizes Byer for seminal contributions to nonlinear optics and solid-state lasers. Byer has been working with lasers since 1969 with research centered on advanced lasers and frequency tuning of lasers using nonlinear optics. Technology from his discoveries has been used in high-definition television, circuit board manufacturing, satellite communications and submarine sonar. His work led to the development of the green laser pointer in 1986.