Stegeman pioneered nonlinear integrated optics through seminal experiments and leadership in the field at UCF's School of Optics and CREOL, OSA said in bestowing the award. Through his research, Stegeman created all-optical switching, a super-fast system for manipulating huge amounts of information.
Currently, information in computers and other communications devices is transferred using electronic switches or a combination of electronic and optical switches that limits how fast information can be sent. All-optical switching speeds up the transfer.
"One can get rid of these bottlenecks and do it at the speed of light, and that's as fast as it gets," Stegeman said.
The technology, which is being developed for commercial applications and should be on the market in five to 10 years, will speed up computers and other systems that must process large amounts of information quickly. For example, a paramedic at an accident scene could transmit X-ray images real-time to a hospital through all-optical means.
The R.W. Wood Prize, which was established to recognize the outstanding discovery, scientific or technical achievement or invention in the field of optics, consists of a medal, a certificate and $1,500 endowed by the Xerox Corporation.
"When I first heard I had received the award," Stegeman said, "I almost felt as if it was a vindication of my career, like somebody had patted me on the back and said, 'atta boy' for all my work. Of course, this was not a solo effort and there were a lot of very talented people who helped make this possible."
Stegeman has served as the Cobb Family Chair in UCF's School of Optics/CREOL, or Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, for the past 13 years, doing research in all-optical signal processing, polymer photonics, cascading nonlinear optics and spatial solitons, a special form of waves that do not spread in space.
He has been awarded the Hertzberg medal of the Canadian Association of Physicists, Researcher of the Year at UCF and Teacher of the Year at CREOL.
"OSA awards provide an opportunity to recognize outstanding achievement within the field," said Elizabeth Rogan, the society's executive director. "Winning one of these prestigious awards is certainly a career highpoint. We congratulate Dr. Stegeman on his perseverance, commitment and contributions to advancing the science of light."
OSA awards the R. W. Wood Prize each year during a formal ceremony at its annual meeting. This year's meeting will be Oct. 5-9 in Tucson, Ariz. For more information on the society and the prize, visit www.osa.org or contact Colleen Morrison at 202-416-1437 or cmorri@osa.org.
George Stegeman can be reached at 407-823-6915 or gstegema@mail.ucf.edu.