Prof. Bhattacharya: Distinguished University Professor Lecture

From Pigeons to Spin-Polarized Lasers: Transmission of Information Through the Ages

by Pallab K. Bhattacharya, the James R. Mellor Professor of Engineering.
During the last 25 years, Bhattacharya has made outstanding and seminal contributions in the areas of growth and characterization of III-V compound semiconductors and their application to optoelectric devices and optoelectronic integrated circuits. Some of his most important contributions include work on integrated high-speed lasers, self-organized quantum dots, room-temperature quantum dots, quantum dot intersubband detectors, and photonic crystal micro cavities—a field in which he widely is regarded as one of the world's top researchers.

When Bhattacharya joined the College of Engineering faculty in 1984, the college and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) had decided to make advanced electronics and optics a high priority. When the state awarded the Research Excellence Fund to the University, Bhattacharya played a key role in the phenomenal growth in the advanced electronics and optics area, particularly in optoelectronics.

His pioneering work led to the creation of the field of nanophotonics, now established worldwide. In recognition of his significant contributions and stature in the field, he was selected a 1998-99 Distinguished Lecturer by the IEEE-Laser and Electro-Optics Society and delivered talks about his work all over the world. He was selected a Guggenheim Fellow for 1998-99 and has received some of the most prestigious awards in his field.

"i am humbled by this tremendous honor," Bhattacharya says. "i couldn't have done what I've done without the support of the EECS department, the College of Engineering and the University."