Emil Wolf
Encyclopedia
Emil Wolf is a Czech born American physicist
who made advancements in physical optics
, including diffraction
, coherence
properties of optical fields
, spectroscopy
of partially coherent radiation
, and the theory of direct scattering and inverse scattering. He is also the author of several works on optics.
, Czechoslovakia
. He was forced to leave his native country when the Germans invaded; After brief periods in Italy and France (where he worked for the Czech government in exile), he came to the United Kingdom in 1940. He received his B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics (1945), and PhD in Mathematics from Bristol University, England, in 1948. Between 1951 and 1954 he worked at the University of Edinburgh
with Max Born
, writing the famous text-book on Optics now usually known simply as 'Born and Wolf'. After a period on the Faculty of the University of Manchester, he moved to the United States in 1959 to take a position at the University of Rochester
. He is currently (2011) the Wilson Professor of Optical Physics at the University of Rochester. He is a naturalized US citizen. He was president of the Optical Society of America
in 1978. Wolf now resides in Cloverwood in Pittsford New York with his wife.
He also predicted a new mechanism that produces redshift
and blueshift, that is not due to moving sources (Doppler effect
), that has subsequently been confirmed experimentally (called the Wolf Effect
). Technically, he found that two non-Lambertian
sources that emit beamed energy, can interact in a way that causes a shift in the spectral lines. It is analogous to a pair of tuning forks with similar frequencies (pitches), connected together mechanically with a sounding board; there is a strong coupling that results in the resonant frequencies getting "dragged down" in pitch. The Wolf Effect can produce either redshifts or blueshifts, depending on the observer's point of view, but is redshifted when the observer is head-on. A subsequent 1999 article by Sisir Roy et al. have suggested that the Wolf Effect may explain discordant redshift in certain quasars Ref.
, he co-wrote Principles of Optics of one of the standard textbooks of optics commonly known as "Born and Wolf". He also co-authored, along with Leonard Mandel
, Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics. He is the author of Introduction to the Theory of Coherence and Polarization of Light and Selected Works of Emil Wolf with Commentary (World Scientific Publishing, 2001, ISBN 981-2811-87-7). He also edits the Progress in Optics
series of books since its inception in 1962.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
who made advancements in physical optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
, including diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
, coherence
Coherence (physics)
In physics, coherence is a property of waves that enables stationary interference. More generally, coherence describes all properties of the correlation between physical quantities of a wave....
properties of optical fields
Field (physics)
In physics, a field is a physical quantity associated with each point of spacetime. A field can be classified as a scalar field, a vector field, a spinor field, or a tensor field according to whether the value of the field at each point is a scalar, a vector, a spinor or, more generally, a tensor,...
, spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
of partially coherent radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
, and the theory of direct scattering and inverse scattering. He is also the author of several works on optics.
Life and career
Wolf was born in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He was forced to leave his native country when the Germans invaded; After brief periods in Italy and France (where he worked for the Czech government in exile), he came to the United Kingdom in 1940. He received his B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics (1945), and PhD in Mathematics from Bristol University, England, in 1948. Between 1951 and 1954 he worked at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
with Max Born
Max Born
Max Born was a German-born physicist and mathematician who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics. He also made contributions to solid-state physics and optics and supervised the work of a number of notable physicists in the 1920s and 30s...
, writing the famous text-book on Optics now usually known simply as 'Born and Wolf'. After a period on the Faculty of the University of Manchester, he moved to the United States in 1959 to take a position at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. He is currently (2011) the Wilson Professor of Optical Physics at the University of Rochester. He is a naturalized US citizen. He was president of the Optical Society of America
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
in 1978. Wolf now resides in Cloverwood in Pittsford New York with his wife.
He also predicted a new mechanism that produces redshift
Redshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...
and blueshift, that is not due to moving sources (Doppler effect
Doppler effect
The Doppler effect , named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who proposed it in 1842 in Prague, is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It is commonly heard when a vehicle sounding a siren or horn approaches, passes, and recedes from...
), that has subsequently been confirmed experimentally (called the Wolf Effect
Wolf effect
The Wolf Effect is a frequency shift in the electromagnetic spectrum.The phenomenon occurs in several closely related phenomena in radiation physics, with analogous effects occurring in the scattering of light. It was first predicted by Emil Wolf in 1987 and subsequently confirmed in the...
). Technically, he found that two non-Lambertian
Lambert's cosine law
In optics, Lambert's cosine law says that the radiant intensity observed from a Lambertian surface or a Lambertian radiator is directly proportional to the cosine of the angle θ between the observer's line of sight and the surface normal. A Lambertian surface is also known as an ideal diffusely...
sources that emit beamed energy, can interact in a way that causes a shift in the spectral lines. It is analogous to a pair of tuning forks with similar frequencies (pitches), connected together mechanically with a sounding board; there is a strong coupling that results in the resonant frequencies getting "dragged down" in pitch. The Wolf Effect can produce either redshifts or blueshifts, depending on the observer's point of view, but is redshifted when the observer is head-on. A subsequent 1999 article by Sisir Roy et al. have suggested that the Wolf Effect may explain discordant redshift in certain quasars Ref.
Works
Wolf is a very well known author in the field of optics. Along with Max BornMax Born
Max Born was a German-born physicist and mathematician who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics. He also made contributions to solid-state physics and optics and supervised the work of a number of notable physicists in the 1920s and 30s...
, he co-wrote Principles of Optics of one of the standard textbooks of optics commonly known as "Born and Wolf". He also co-authored, along with Leonard Mandel
Leonard Mandel
Leonard Mandel was the Lee DuBridge Professor Emeritus of Physics and Optics at the University of Rochester when he died at the age of 73 at his home in Pittsford, New York. He contributed immensely to theoretical and experimental optics...
, Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics. He is the author of Introduction to the Theory of Coherence and Polarization of Light and Selected Works of Emil Wolf with Commentary (World Scientific Publishing, 2001, ISBN 981-2811-87-7). He also edits the Progress in Optics
Progress in Optics
Progress in Optics are a series of books edited by Emil Wolf published by Elsevier. They consist of collections of already published review articles deemed to be representative of the advances made in the fields of optics. In this sense, the series is not entirely unlike an academic journal.The...
series of books since its inception in 1962.
Awards
- Frederic Ives Medal of the Optical Society of AmericaOptical Society of AmericaThe Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
(1977) - Albert A. Michelson Medal of the Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
(1980) - Max Born AwardMax Born AwardThe Max Born Award is given by the Optical Society for "outstanding contributions to physical optics", and is named after Max Born.-Recipients:* 2011 Carlton M. Caves* 2010 Vladimir M. Shalaev* 2009 Mordechai Segev...
of the Optical Society of America (1987) - Marconi Medal of the Italian National Research Council (1987)
- Gold Medal of the Czechoslovak Academy of Science (1991)
- Medal of the Union of Czechoslovak Mathematicians and Physicists (1991)
- Gold Medal of Palacký University of Olomouc, Czechoslovakia (1991)
Memberships
- Honorary member of the Optical Society of America (President in 1978)
- Honorary member of the Optical Societies of India and Australia
Honorary degrees
- University of GroningenUniversity of GroningenThe University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
, the Netherlands (1989) - University of EdinburghUniversity of EdinburghThe University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(1990) - Palacky University (1992)
- University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(1997) - Université LavalUniversité LavalLaval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
, Quebec (1997) - University of Franche-ComtéUniversity of Franche-ComtéThe University of Franche-Comté is a French university in the Academy of Besançon with five campuses: Besançon , Belfort , Montbéliard , Vesoul , and Lons-le-Saunier ....
, France (1999) - Aalborg University, Denmark (1999).
External links
- Emil Wolf. Home Page at University of RochesterUniversity of RochesterThe University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. - Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light (English) Sample chapters.
- Wolf's Math Genealogy
- Articles Published by early OSA Presidents Journal of the Optical Society of America
See also
- Past presidents of the Optical Society of America
- Progress in OpticsProgress in OpticsProgress in Optics are a series of books edited by Emil Wolf published by Elsevier. They consist of collections of already published review articles deemed to be representative of the advances made in the fields of optics. In this sense, the series is not entirely unlike an academic journal.The...