R. L. Byer

Biography

Abstract

Robert L. Byer researches lasers and nonlinear optics. He has spent his career working at Stanford University and has held various positions including Professor of Applied Physics, Vice Provost and Dean of Research, and Director of the Center for Nonlinear Optical Materials.

Important Dates

May 9, 1942Birth, Glendale (Calif.).

1964Obtained BA in Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1964 – 1965Staff, Spectra-Physics.

1967Obtained MS in Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1969Obtained PhD in Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1969 – presentAssistant Professor of Applied Physics (1969-1974); Associate Professor of Applied Physics (1974-1979); Chair, Department of Applied Physics (1980-1983); Professor of Applied Physics (1979-present); and Chair, Department of Applied Physics (1999-2002), Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1975 – 1982Co-Founder, Quanta-Ray Lab, Spectra-Physics.

1976Fellow, Optical Society of America.

1984 – 1985President, Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

1984 – 1986Associate Dean, Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1984 – 2005Member, Board of Directors, Lightwave Electronics Corporation.

1987Member, National Academy of Engineering.

1987Fellow, Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

1987 – 1992Vice Provost and Dean of Research, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1989 – presentMember (1989-1999); Chair (1995-1998); and Fellow (1999-present), California Council on Science and Technology.

1992Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

1992Fellow, American Physical Society.

1992 – 1999Member, Directed Research and Development Program Committee (1992-1995) and Director, Advisory Committee (1996-1999), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

1992 – 2000Director, Center for Nonlinear Optical Materials, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1993 – 2000Member, Governing Board, American Institute of Physics.

1994 – 1995President, Optical Society of America.

1995 – 1998Member, Committee on Optical Sciences and Engineering, COSE (1995-1998) and Member, Committee on Inertial Confinement Fusion (1996-1997), National Research Council.

1997 – 2006Director, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1998Fellow, Laser Institute of America.

1998 – presentMember, Board of Directors, General Lasertronics Corporation.

1999 – 2000Member, NIF Task Force, Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, United States Department of Energy.

2000Member, National Academy of Sciences.

2000 – 2002Member, Board of Directors, PolyStor, Inc.

2000 – presentCo-Director, Stanford Photonics Research Center, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

2000 – presentMember, Advisory Committee, National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

2001 – 2003Member, NIST Advisory Board and Physical Panel Vice Chair, National Research Council.

2002 Member, International Advisory Board, RIKEN.

2002 – 2003Member (2002) and Member, Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee (2003), California-Mexico Commission on Education, Science, Technology.

2002 – 2006Member, Scientific Advisory Board, United States Air Force.

2002 – 2006Chair, External Advisory Board, Center for Adaptive Optics.

2003 – 2006Member, Program Advisory Committee, Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO).

2004 Member, International Advisory Board, RIKEN.

2004 – presentMember, Science Advisory Committee, Linac Coherent Light Source, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC).

2005 – presentMember, International Advisory Committee, Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations.

2006 Member, International Advisory Board, RIKEN.

2006 – 2009Director, Edward L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

2007 – 2008Member, Board on Army Science and Technology - Directed Energy Study, National Research Council.

2009Chair, Board of Directors, Mobius Photonics (bought out by IPG Photonics).

2012President, American Physical Society.

Occupation

Applied physicist.

Places

Birth

Glendale (Calif.)

Undergraduate Education

Berkeley (Calif.)

Graduate Education

Stanford (Calif.)

Employment

Stanford (Calif.)

Subjects

Applied physics and engineering.

Lasers.

Nonlinear optics.

Optical parametric oscillators.

Photonics.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Beasley, Malcolm

Both employed at Stanford University.

Bienenstock, Arthur

Both employed at Stanford University.

Bucksbaum, Philip H.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Chodorow, Marvin

Both employed at Stanford University.

Chu, Steven

Both employed at Stanford University.

Cutler, Cassius Chapin

Both employed at Stanford University.

Falcone, Roger W.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Geballe, Theodore H.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Herring, William Conyers, 1914-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Kompfner, Rudolf, 1909-1977

Both employed at Stanford University.

Osheroff, Douglas D.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Shen, Zhi-Xun

Both employed at Stanford University.

Stöhr, Joachim

Both employed at Stanford University.

Institutions

Major Positions

Edward L. Ginzton Laboratory

Director.

Spectra-Physics (Firm)

Staff.

Spectra-Physics (Firm). Quanta-Ray Lab

Co-Founder.

Stanford University

Vice Provost and Dean of Research.

Stanford University. Center for Nonlinear Optical Materials

Director.

Stanford University. Department of Applied Physics

Obtained MS (Applied Physics) in 1967 and PhD (Applied Physics) in 1969. Assistant Professor of Applied Physics; Associate Professor of Applied Physics; Professor of Applied Physics; and Chair, Department of Applied Physics. Co-Director, Stanford Photonics Research Center.

Stanford University. School of Humanities and Sciences

Associate Dean.

W. W. Hansen Laboratories of Physics

Director, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Institute of Physics

Member, Governing Board.

American Physical Society

President.

California Council on Science and Technology

Member, Chair, and Fellow.

California-Mexico Commission on Education, Science, Technology

Member and Member, Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee.

Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations

Member, International Advisory Committee.

Center for Adaptive Optics (U.S.)

Chair, External Advisory Board.

General Lasertronics

Member, Board of Directors.

IPG Photonics

Chair, Board of Directors (Mobius Photonics).

Laser Institute of America

Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory

Member, Program Advisory Committee.

Lasers and Electro-optics Society (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

President.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Member, Directed Research and Development Program Committee; Director, Advisory Committee; and Member, Advisory Committee, National Ignition Facility.

Lightwave Electronics Corporation

Member, Board of Directors.

National Academy of Engineering

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, Committee on Optical Sciences and Engineering (COSE); Member, Committee on Inertial Confinement Fusion; Member, NIST Advisory Board and Physical Panel Vice Chair; and Member, Board on Army Science and Technology - Directed Energy Study.

Optical Society of America

President.

PolyStor Energy Corporation

Member, Board of Directors.

Rikagaku Kenkyūjo (Japan)

Member, International Advisory Board.

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

Member, Science Advisory Committee, Linac Coherent Light Source.

United States. Air Force

Member, Scientific Advisory Board.

United States. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board

Member, NIF Task Force.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Obtained BA in 1964.

Resources