Photonics

Lore & Background

The word 'Photonics' is derived from the Greek word 'phos' meaning light and appeared in the late 1960s to describe a research field whose goal was to use light to perform functions traditionally within the domain of electronics. An early instance of the word was in a December 1954 letter from John W. Campbell to Gotthard Gunther, where Campbell wrote: 'Incidentally, I've decided to invent a new science — photonics. It bears the same relationship to Optics that electronics does to electrical engineering.' Photonics as a field began with the invention of the maser and laser in 1958 to 1960, followed by the laser diode in the 1970s, optical fibers for transmitting information, and the erbium-doped fiber amplifier. These inventions formed the basis for the telecommunications revolution of the late 20th century and provided the infrastructure for the Internet. Though coined earlier, the term photonics came into common use in the 1980s as fiber-optic data transmission was adopted by telecommunications network operators, particularly at Bell Laboratories. Its use was confirmed when the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society established an archival journal named Photonics Technology Letters at the end of the 1980s. During the period leading up to the dot-com crash circa 2001, photonics was a field focused largely on optical telecommunications, but it covers a huge range of science and technology applications including laser manufacturing, biological and chemical sensing, medical diagnostics and therapy, display technology, and optical computing.

Reader's Guide

Photonics is significant because it underpins many modern technologies, from fiber-optic telecommunications that enable the Internet to laser-based manufacturing, medical diagnostics, and sensing. The field emerged from the invention of the laser and semiconductor light emitters, and its development paralleled the rise of optical fibers, leading to a telecommunications revolution. Despite its widespread use, the term 'photonics' lacks a universally agreed definition, and its boundaries with related fields like optics and optoelectronics are debated. The field encompasses both fundamental research (quantum optics) and applied research and development. Its applications are vast and continue to expand, including areas such as photonic computing, biophotonics, and renewable energy. The legacy of photonics is evident in consumer devices (barcode scanners, CD/DVD/Blu-ray), medical tools (laser surgery, endoscopy), industrial processes (welding, cutting), and emerging fields like quantum information and plasmonics. The field's professional organizations, such as the IEEE Photonics Society, serve as conduits for advances in research, engineering, and applications.

Did You Know?

• The word 'Photonics' was first used in a December 1954 letter from John W. Campbell to Gotthard Gunther.
• Photonics as a field began with the invention of the maser and laser in 1958 to 1960.
• The term photonics came into common use in the 1980s as fiber-optic data transmission was adopted by telecommunications network operators.
• There is no widespread agreement on a clear definition of the term 'photonics' or on its difference from related fields such as optics.