Frederic Ives Medal
The Frederic Ives Medal is the highest award of the Optical Society, recognizing overall distinction in optics. The prize was established in 1928 by Herbert E. Ives in honor of his father, Frederic Ives. Initially awarded every two years, it has been awarded annually since 1951. The prize is funded by the Jarus W. Quinn Ives Medal Endowment.
Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Citation |
| 1929 | Edward L. Nichols | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1931 | Theodore Lyman | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1933 | Robert W. Wood | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1935 | George E. Hale | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1937 | Herbert E. Ives | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1939 | August H. Pfund | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1941 | Selig Hecht | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1943 | Loyd A. Jones | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1945 | William W. Coblentz | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1947 | William F. Meggers | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1949 | George R. Harrison | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1951 | Brian O'Brien | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1952 | Ira S. Bowen | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1953 | Harrison M. Randall | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1954 | Irving C. Gardner | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1955 | For distinguished work in optics. | |
| 1956 | John Donovan Strong | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1957 | Arthur C. Hardy | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1958 | Deane B. Judd | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1959 | For distinguished work in optics. | |
| 1960 | Richard Tousey | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1961 | Seibert Q. Duntley | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1962 | Max Herzberger | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1963 | Ralph A. Sawyer | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1964 | Gerhard Herzberg | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1965 | James G. Baker | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1966 | George Wald | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1967 | Edwin H. Land | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1968 | Edward U. Condon | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1969 | David H. Rank | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1970 | Robert E. Hopkins | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1971 | A. Francis Turner | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1972 | R. Clark Jones | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1973 | Rudolf Kingslake | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1974 | David MacAdam | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1975 | Ali Javan | For distinguished work in optics. |
| 1976 | Arthur L. Schawlow | In recognition of his pioneering role in the invention of the laser, his continuing originality in the refinement of coherent optical sources, his productive vision in the application of optics to science and technology, his distinguished service to optics education and to the optics community, and his innovative contributions to the public understanding of optical science. |
| 1977 | Emil Wolf | For his many contributions to our understanding of electromagnetic theory and physical optics, particularly for his work in diffraction and the theory of partial coherence, and for his contributions to the tutorial literature as author and editor. |
| 1978 | Harold H. Hopkins | In recognition of his many unique contributions to the field of optics, including aberration theory, optical design, image evaluation, coherence theory, interferometry, and fiber optics.. |
| 1979 | Nicolaas Bloembergen | In recognition of his achievement in establishing the theoretical framework of nonlinear optics, his sustained innovative contributions to the exploration of all aspects in the field of nonlinear optical phenomena, and his successes in the role of teacher and interpreter of science. |
| 1980 | Aden B. Meinel | For his contributions to thermal solar energy, analysis of the principles of coherently combined, independent telescopes, and the leadership he has given to several major optical and astronomical research centers. |
| 1981 | In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of the structure and behavior of evaporated thin films and the application of these films to reflective and anti-reflective coatings for both the visible and the ultraviolet spectral regions. | |
| 1982 | In recognition of a lifetime of pioneering in electrophysiological, psychophysical, and other studies of the visual process; his years of public service in the field of vision; and his genius for inspiring generations of students to create their own distinguished careers in vision. | |
| 1983 | Boris P. Stoicheff | For his contributions to high resolution Raman spectroscopy, nonlinear optics and the applications of nonlinear optics to atomic and molecular spectroscopy. |
| 1984 | Herwig Kogelnik | For pioneering contributions to holography, lasers, and integrated optics. |
| 1985 | Emmett N. Leith | For contributions to modern holography, information processing, and electromagnetics. |
| 1986 | Amnon Yariv | For his numerous pioneering contributions to lasers, optoelectronics, and phase conjugate optics. |
| 1987 | Anthony E. Siegman | For contribution to the field of quantum electronics, particularly research on unstable resonators and mode-locked lasers, as well as contributions to the education of a generation of optical scientists. |
| 1988 | Anthony J. DeMaria | For outstanding contributions to the field of optics and quantum electronics, particularly the first demonstration of optical picosecond pulses using mode-locked lasers, and pioneering contributions to the application of lasers in industry and scientific research. |
| 1989 | In recognition of his illustrious career in optics and materials sciences and his exemplary service in scientific management.. | |
| 1990 | Joseph W. Goodman | For his outstanding technical contributions to the field of coherent optics and for his equally important and continuing contributions to modern optics education and to scientific communication. |
| 1991 | John L. Hall | In recognition of his outstanding contributions to laser frequency stabilization, innovations in high resolution laser spectroscopy, and high accuracy tests of fundamental physical laws.. |
| 1992 | In recognition of his many pioneering contributions to the field of nonlinear optics, as well as his service to the optics community. | |
| 1993 | Leonard Mandel | In recognition of his contributions to coherence theory and to the fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics and the nature of the photon. |
| 1994 | Hermann A. Haus | For his fundamental and seminal contribution to the understanding of quantum noise in optical systems and for a lifetime of dedication to science and engineering education. |
| 1995 | To recognize fundamental contributions to the understanding of human color vision, and for leadership in teaching and in service to the vision community. | |
| 1996 | For five decades of major contributions to the field of optics, including research, education and administration, but especially for his inspiring creativity in optical physics, from quantum electronics to airborne infrared astronomy. | |
| 1997 | Tingye Li | For his leadership and contributions to lightwave science and technology, ranging from fundamental studies of modes in laser resonators to remarkable implementations of advanced optical communications systems. |
| 1998 | Arthur Ashkin | For his pioneering work on the manipulation of particles with light, including the invention of the "optical tweezers" trap and his studies of radiation forces on atoms and for important contributions to nonlinear optics. |
| 1999 | For pioneering work in nonlinear optics, XUV lasers and laser spectroscopy, from electromagnetically induced transparency and lasing without inversion to nonlinear optics at maximal coherence. | |
| 2000 | Alexander Prokhorov | For his distinguished contributions and monumental role over the past 45 years in creating and developing quantum electronics. |
| 2001 | For pioneering work in the field of semiconductor lasers and LEDs. | |
| 2002 | James P. Gordon | For numerous seminal contributions and fundamental insights into quantum electronics, including construction of the first maser, the concept of confocal laser resonators, optical solitons, and quantum effects in communications systems. |
| 2003 | Herbert Walther | For pioneering contributions to quantum optics, including the development of the micromaser and the demonstration of Wigner crystallization of laser-cooled ions. |
| 2004 | David J. Wineland | For development of laser-manipulated quantum engineering at the single-atom level and application of these methods to quantum logic systems, atomic frequency standards, and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. |
| 2005 | Theodor W. Hänsch | For seminal contributions and landmark advances in optical science and atomic physics, including narrow-band dye lasers, Doppler-free laser spectroscopy, laser cooling of atomic gases, precision spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen, frequency metrology with optical combs, and new physics with cold atoms in optical lattices. |
| 2006 | Erich P. Ippen | For laying the foundations of ultrafast science and engineering and providing vision and sustained leadership to the optics community. |
| 2007 | Daniel Kleppner | For sustained innovation, discovery and leadership in the interaction of radiation with atoms and for his service and general educational activities. |
| 2008 | Peter L. Knight | For his immense contribution to optics through pioneering research in quantum optics and by his unique combination of educational, organization and leadership skills. |
| 2009 | Robert L. Byer | For pioneering contributions to optical science and the commercial development of optical technologies and for wide-ranging leadership activities within the optics community. |
| 2010 | Joseph H. Eberly | For many important research contributions to quantum optics and optical physics, his leadership as a teacher and educator, and his tireless and visionary service to the optics community. |
| 2011 | For pioneering research in high-speed modulators, ridge waveguide lasers and wavelength-division-multiplexed optical networks, and each has had a profound impact on modern communication systems. | |
| 2012 | Marlan O. Scully | For lifetime leadership in groundbreaking research on all aspects of quantum optics including the quantum theory of the laser, quantum coherence effects, quantum thermodynamics and the foundations of quantum mechanics. |
| 2013 | Alain Aspect | For carrying out pioneering research on photons and atoms shedding light on the most intriguing quantum phenomena and prompting the development of the new field of quantum information. |
| 2014 | Paul B. Corkum | For outstanding contributions to the foundation of the fields of attosecond science, high-harmonic spectroscopy and molecular optics. |
| 2015 | James G. Fujimoto | For pioneering the field of optical coherence tomography and for leading the field to widespread medical application and major commercial impact. |
| 2016 | Gérard Mourou | For numerous pioneering contributions to the development of ultrafast and ultrahigh intensity laser science and for outstanding leadership of the international and commercial communities impacted by these technologies.. |
| 2017 | Margaret Murnane | For pioneering and sustained contributions to ultrafast science ranging from femtosecond lasers to soft x-ray high-harmonic generation to attosecond studies of atoms, molecules and surfaces. |
| 2018 | Rod C. Alferness | For basic contributions and leadership in the development of integrated optics, high-speed optical modulation and switching, and configurable WDM networks that have provided significant economic and societal impact. |
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