The Optica Foundation partnered with Menlo Systems, Hamamatsu, and Thorlabs to produce the Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics, which provides the opportunity for an early-career professional to receive recognition and funding for early-career professionals engaged in exciting and innovative projects that have the potential to make a meaningful and positive impact on the science and applications of optics-enabled quantum technologies.
The goal is to support individuals in the area of quantum optics and photonics for the purpose of providing dynamic and rigorous research with an approach to solving complex, theoretical or real-world problems. Recipients will be granted total research freedom with consideration being given to the following:
- Work focused on advancing basic research, or
- Efforts focused on transitioning an idea into a commercial innovation
The prize is expected to help the recipient in their pursuit of the most compelling and interesting research issues in ultrafast optics. The Theodor W. Hänsch Prize is a personal prize and is not renewable.
Application Information
How to Apply
Applications will be available at apply.optica.org
Important Dates
Opens: 16 December 2024
Closes: 14 February 2025
Applicant Requirements
- Must be an Optica member.
- Must be an early-career professional (1-5 years post highest degree) pursuing a compelling project that has a meaningful global impact.
- Demonstrate the unique nature and global reach of the project.
- Conducting research in the areas of quantum optics.
Program requirements recognize and exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; inability to work due to Covid-19 and lab closures; long-term illness).
Application Requirements
- Applicant name, institution and contact information
- Applicant CV/Resume - no more than four (4) pages
- A statement describing how this prize will benefit you and impact your work
- Proposal covering:
- Current research and the intended goals
- Potential impact of your project to advance the field of quantum optics
- Potential for your research to solve real-world challenges and/or have a global impact
- An overview of how the US$20,000 prize would benefit your research and career
- Proposals should be no more than two (2) pages
- One (1) example of published work
- Two (2) references
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The prize honors the extraordinary contributions of Theodor W. Hänsch, Director of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. A native of Germany, Hänsch earned his Ph.D. in Laser Physics from the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and, soon after, became a professor at Stanford University. In 1986, he was awarded the Albert A. Michelson Medal from the Franklin Institute and chose to return to Germany as to direct the Max Planck Institute, where he continues to serve as Director as well as a Carl Friedrich von Siemens Professor at the Ludwig Maximilians University.
Theodor Hänsch is known for his seminal contributions in the field of laser spectroscopy. In 2001, he and two of his PhDs began Menlo Systems as a spin-off of the Max-Plack Institute and, in 2005, he shared one-half of the Nobel Prize in Physics for contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique. Throughout his career, he has received many awards, including Optica's William F. Meggers Award and Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize. He has given more than a lifetime’s worth of dedication and achievements to physics, lasers and photonics. He remains an inspiration to everyone who calls him friend, colleague, boss or mentor.
2025 - Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics
The Optica Foundation partnered with Menlo Systems, Hamamatsu, and Thorlabs to produce the Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics, which provides the opportunity for an early-career professional to receive recognition and funding for early-career professionals engaged in exciting and innovative projects that have the potential to make a meaningful and positive impact on the science and applications of optics-enabled quantum technologies.
The goal is to support individuals in the area of quantum optics and photonics for the purpose of providing dynamic and rigorous research with an approach to solving complex, theoretical or real-world problems. Recipients will be granted total research freedom with consideration being given to the following:
- Work focused on advancing basic research, or
- Efforts focused on transitioning an idea into a commercial innovation
The prize is expected to help the recipient in their pursuit of the most compelling and interesting research issues in ultrafast optics. The Theodor W. Hänsch Prize is a personal prize and is not renewable.
Application Information
How to Apply
Applications will be available at apply.optica.org
Important Dates
Opens: 16 December 2024
Closes: 14 February 2025
Applicant Requirements
- Must be an Optica member.
- Must be an early-career professional (1-5 years post highest degree) pursuing a compelling project that has a meaningful global impact.
- Demonstrate the unique nature and global reach of the project.
- Conducting research in the areas of quantum optics.
Program requirements recognize and exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; inability to work due to Covid-19 and lab closures; long-term illness).
Application Requirements
- Applicant name, institution and contact information
- Applicant CV/Resume - no more than four (4) pages
- A statement describing how this prize will benefit you and impact your work
- Proposal covering:
- Current research and the intended goals
- Potential impact of your project to advance the field of quantum optics
- Potential for your research to solve real-world challenges and/or have a global impact
- An overview of how the US$20,000 prize would benefit your research and career
- Proposals should be no more than two (2) pages
- One (1) example of published work
- Two (2) references
| | |
The prize honors the extraordinary contributions of Theodor W. Hänsch, Director of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. A native of Germany, Hänsch earned his Ph.D. in Laser Physics from the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and, soon after, became a professor at Stanford University. In 1986, he was awarded the Albert A. Michelson Medal from the Franklin Institute and chose to return to Germany as to direct the Max Planck Institute, where he continues to serve as Director as well as a Carl Friedrich von Siemens Professor at the Ludwig Maximilians University.
Theodor Hänsch is known for his seminal contributions in the field of laser spectroscopy. In 2001, he and two of his PhDs began Menlo Systems as a spin-off of the Max-Plack Institute and, in 2005, he shared one-half of the Nobel Prize in Physics for contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique. Throughout his career, he has received many awards, including Optica's William F. Meggers Award and Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize. He has given more than a lifetime’s worth of dedication and achievements to physics, lasers and photonics. He remains an inspiration to everyone who calls him friend, colleague, boss or mentor.