IPPA Prize

The IPPA Prize Selection Committee (T. Sawada, P. Hess, J. Thoen, J. Pelzl and A. Oraevsky) has unanimously voted to award, exceptionally, two IPPA Prizes in 2002. One Prize will be awarded to Dr. Allan Rosencwaig

Dr. Allan Rosencwaig

"For originating and fostering the renaissance of the investigation of photoacoustic and photothermal phenomena, with seminal studies in several areas including solid state physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and electronic materials, studies that have inspired and kindled the interest of many scientists in this field. For publishing a pioneering paper that was the first to provide a firm theoretical basis for the photoacoustic phenomenon in condensed matter, and which belongs to the most cited contributions in the field (A. Rosencwaig and A. Gersho, J.Appl.Phys. 47, 64 (1976)). For stimulating talks, many publications, including further seminal papers ( e.g., A. Rosencwaig, Opt.Commun. 7 (1973) 305; A. Rosencwaig, Science 218, 223 (1982)), a monograph (A. Rosencwaig, Photoacoustic and Photothermal Spectroscopy, John Wiley& Sons 1980), and contributions to books (A. Rosencwaig, in Progress in Photothermal and Photoacoustic Science and Technology, Vol. II, Nondestructive Evaluation, A. Mandelis, Ed., (PTR Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1994). For his enterpreneurial leadership as one of the first photoacoustic scientists to take the step to industrial applications of photothermal processes and build Therma-Wave, Inc., a successful company in Fremont, California, which commercializes semiconductor process control metrology systems".
 

The other Prize was exceptionally awarded posthumously to Dr. Andrew Tam

Dr. Andrew Tam

"For his many significant contributions to photoacoustic and photothermal research over the years since its rebirth, by combining both fundamental and applied research in unique ways. For introducing and establishing new optical and acoustical techniques in original papers (A.C. Tam and W.P. Leung, Phys.Rev.Lett. 53, 560 (1984)), research reviews (C.K.N. Patel and A.C. Tam, Rev.Mod. Phys. 53, 517(1981); A.C. Tam, Rev.Mod.Phys. 58, 381 (1986)), and for contributions to books (A.C. Tam, in Ultrasensitive Laser Spectroscopy, chapter 1, D. Kliger, Ed. (Academic, New York, 1983); A.C. Tam, in Photothermal Investigations of Solids and Fluids, chapter 1, J.A. Sell, Ed., (Academic, New York, 1988). For his strong involvement in the development of new research fields, such as laser processing or laser cleaning; and for succeeding, as an employee of IBM Almaden Laboratories, in incorporating photoacoustic and photothermal processes into the industrial environment, such as his Laser Curvature Adjust Technique (LCAT) for fine tuning the curvature of the air bearing surface of the ceramic slider".

The awards will be presented by the President and Directors of the IPPA, at the end of the Andrew C. Tam Memorial Session on Industrial Applications.