Jump to content

Charles K. Kao: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
0149784rr (talk | contribs)
96 edits
0149784rr (talk | contribs)
96 edits
Line 74: Line 74:
Kao developed important techniques and configurations for glass fiber waveguides, and contributed to the development of different fiber types and system devices which met both civil and [[Military communications|military]]{{Cref|*}} application requirements, and peripheral supporting systems for optical fiber communication<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao">{{cite web|url=http://cradle.wykontario.org/wp-content/uploads/Dr_Kao.pdf |title=Charles Kuen Kao |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2009-10-28}}</ref>. In mid-1970s, he did seminal work on glass fiber [[Fatigue limit|fatigue strength]]<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />. Kao also played a key role in the engineering and commercial realisation of optical communication<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />. He visited many research institutes including [[Bell Laboratories]] and even glass factories, discussed with various people including engineers, scientists, businessmen about the techniques and improvement of glass fiber manufacture. When named the first ITT Executive Scientist, Kao launched the "[[Terabit]] Technology" program in addressing the high frequency limits of signal processing, so Kao is also known as the "''Father of Terabit Technology Concept''"<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />. Kao has published more than 100 papers and was granted over 30 [[patent]]s<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />, including the water-resistant high-strength fibers (with M.S. Maklad)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4183621.html |title=Water resistant high strength fibers (United States Patent 4183621) |format=PDF |date= Filing Date: 12/29/1977; Publication Date: 01/15/1980 |accessdate=2009-11-01}}</ref>.
Kao developed important techniques and configurations for glass fiber waveguides, and contributed to the development of different fiber types and system devices which met both civil and [[Military communications|military]]{{Cref|*}} application requirements, and peripheral supporting systems for optical fiber communication<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao">{{cite web|url=http://cradle.wykontario.org/wp-content/uploads/Dr_Kao.pdf |title=Charles Kuen Kao |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2009-10-28}}</ref>. In mid-1970s, he did seminal work on glass fiber [[Fatigue limit|fatigue strength]]<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />. Kao also played a key role in the engineering and commercial realisation of optical communication<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />. He visited many research institutes including [[Bell Laboratories]] and even glass factories, discussed with various people including engineers, scientists, businessmen about the techniques and improvement of glass fiber manufacture. When named the first ITT Executive Scientist, Kao launched the "[[Terabit]] Technology" program in addressing the high frequency limits of signal processing, so Kao is also known as the "''Father of Terabit Technology Concept''"<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />. Kao has published more than 100 papers and was granted over 30 [[patent]]s<ref name="Charles Kuen Kao" />, including the water-resistant high-strength fibers (with M.S. Maklad)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4183621.html |title=Water resistant high strength fibers (United States Patent 4183621) |format=PDF |date= Filing Date: 12/29/1977; Publication Date: 01/15/1980 |accessdate=2009-11-01}}</ref>.


Kao is also a pioneer of [[submarine communications cable]]s and largely promoted this concept. He predicted in 1983 that world's seas would be littered with fiber optics, five years ahead the first such trans-oceanic cable became serviceable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/um81r1t511321752/fulltext.pdf?page=1 |title=''[http://www.springerlink.com/content/um81r1t511321752/ Building the Global Fiber Optics Superhighway]'' (ISBN 978-0-306-46505-5 (Print) 978-0-306-46979-4 (Online)): 1, A Global Footprint |format=PDF (Free Abstract)|date= May 8, 2007 |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] USA |accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref>
Kao is also a pioneer of [[submarine communications cable]]s and largely promoted this concept. He predicted in 1983 that world's seas would be littered with fiber optics, five years ahead the first such trans-oceanic cable became serviceable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/um81r1t511321752/fulltext.pdf?page=1 |title=''Building the Global Fiber Optics Superhighway'' (ISBN 978-0-306-46505-5 (Print) 978-0-306-46979-4 (Online)): 1, A Global Footprint |format=PDF (Free Abstract)|date= May 8, 2007 |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] USA |accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref>


==Honors and awards==
==Honors and awards==

Revision as of 09:02, 3 November 2009

Template:Chinese-name Template:ChineseText

Charles Kuen Kao
高錕
Born (1933-11-04) 4 November 1933 (age 90)
Shanghai, China
CitizenshipUnited States of America
United Kingdom[1]
Alma materUniversity of London (PhD 1965)
Woolwich Polytechnic (BSc 1957)
St. Joseph's College, Hong Kong (1952)
Known forFiber optics
AwardsLiebmann Award (1978)
Bell Medal (1985)
Faraday Medal (1989)
McGroddy Prize (1989)
Prince Philip Medal (1996)
Japan Prize (1996)
3463 Kaokuen (1996)
Draper Prize (1999)
Nobel Prize in Physics (2009)
Scientific career
FieldsOptics
Electrical engineering
Enterprise
Higher education
InstitutionsChinese University of Hong Kong
ITT Corporation
Standard Telephones and Cables

Charles Kuen ("K. C.") Kao CBE FRS[2] FREng[3] (traditional Chinese: 高錕; simplified Chinese: 高锟; pinyin: Gāo Kūn (Kao Kuen); born 4 November 1933) is a pioneer in the development and use of fiber optics in telecommunications. Kao, widely regarded as the "Father of Fiber Optic Communications",[4][5][6] was awarded half of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for "groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication".[7]

Biography

Kao was born in Shanghai in 1933, but his ancestral home is in Jinshan, Jiangsu now part of Shanghai. He studied Chinese classics at home with his brother, under a tutor.[8] He also studied English and French at an international school in Shanghai which was founded by a number of progressive Chinese educators including Cài Yuánpéi (蔡元培).[9]

Kao's family moved to Hong Kong in 1948[10] where he completed his secondary education (advanced level) at St. Joseph's College in 1952. He did his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering at Woolwich Polytechnic (now the University of Greenwich),[11] obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree issued by the University of London.

He then pursued research and received his PhD degree in electrical engineering in 1965 from the Imperial College London.[12]

While studying for his PhD degree, Kao also worked as an engineer for Standard Telephones and Cables (STC, later Nortel Networks) at their Standard Telecommunications Laboratories (STL) research centre in Harlow, England. Kao did his groundbreaking work at STL where he was an engineer and researcher.

Kao joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 1970, to found the Department of Electronics, which later became the Department of Electronic Engineering. Under his leadership, the School of Education and other new research institutes were established. He then went back to ITT Corporation in 1974 (by then the parent corporation of STC), and the United States, and worked in Roanoke, Virginia, first as chief scientist and later as director of engineering. In 1982, he became the first ITT Executive Scientist and was stationed mainly at the Advanced Technology Center in Connecticut.[4] While there, he served as an adjunct professor and fellow of Trumbull College at Yale University.

Kao was Vice-Chancellor (equivalent to President in universities of the United States) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong from 1987 to 1996[13]. From 1993 to 1994, he was the President of ASAIHL (The Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning)[14].

Kao then worked as the CEO of Transtech. He is currently Chairman and CEO of ITX Services. As of 2009, he resides in Hong Kong and often travels to the United States to visit his family.

Kao is the founder of Independent School Foundation Academy (ISF), which is located in Cyberport.

On October 6, 2009, Kao was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the study of the transmission of light in optical fibers and for fiber communication.[15]

Ancestry and family

Kao's father Kao Chun-Hsiang (高君湘) was a lawyer, who obtained his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1925.[16] He was a professor at Soochow University (then in Shanghai) Comparative Law School of China.[17][18]

His grandfather was Kao Choi-Wan (Gao Chuiwan, 高吹萬), a famous poet, revolutionary, literator, and a key figure of Nan Society (South Society, 南社) during the late Qing Dynasty.[19]

His father's cousin was astronomer Ping-Tse Kao (高平子;[20] Kao Crater is named after him.[21]) Kao has a younger brother named Timothy Wu Kao (高鋙), who is a civil engineer and Professor Emeritus at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. His research is in hydrodynamics.[22]

Kao met his future wife M.Y.Huang (黄美芸) in London after graduation. His wife was a Fortran programmer working in the same factory of Kao.[23] She is British Chinese. The two married in 1959 in London.[24][25] The couple have two children, a son and a younger daughter,[24] both of whom reside and work in Silicon Valley, California.[23]

Kao has been suffering slightly from Alzheimer's disease since early 2009 and has speech difficulty, but has no problem in recognizing people or addresses.[26] Kao's father also suffered from the same disease. Kao and his wife would like to donate part of the prize money to aging research and care, possibly to the Hong Kong St. James' Settlement Health Care Centre for Old People, and the American-based Alzheimer's Association.[27]

Pottery making, a traditional Chinese handwork, is a hobby of Kao's. Kao also enjoys reading Wuxia novels.[28]

Works and related history

A bundle of silica glass fibers for optical communication, which are used everywhere nowadays. Kao also first suggested that silica glass was ideal material for long range optical communication. See also strength of glass.

In early 1960s at STL, Kao did his pioneering work in the realisation of fiber optics as a telecommunications medium, by demonstrating that the high-loss of existing fiber optics arose from impurities in the glass, rather than from an underlying problem with the technology itself[29]. Kao was pointed to the head of the electro-optics research group at STL in 1963[30]. Kao not only considered the optical physics but also the material properties. The results were first presented by Kao in early 1966 in London, and further published in June with his colleage George Hockham (1964-1965)[31]. This study first theorized and proposed to use glass fibers to implement optical communication, the ideas (especially structural features and materials) described largely are the basis of today's optical fiber communication.

In 1965, Kao concluded that the fundamental limitation for glass light attenuation is below 20 dB/km (Decibels per Kilometer, is a measure of the attenuation of a signal over a distance), which is a key threshold value for optical communications[32]. However, at the time of this determination, optical fibers commonly exhibited light loss as high as 1,000 db/km and even more. This conclusion opened the intense race to find low-loss materials and suitable fibers for reaching such criteria.

Kao, together with his new team (members including T.W. Davies, M.W. Jones, and C.R. Wright), pursued this goal by testing various materials. They precisely measured the attenuation of light with different wavelengths in glasses and other materials. During this period, Kao pointed out that the high purity of fused silica (SiO2) made it an ideal candidate for optical communication. Kao also stated that the impurity of glass material is the main cause for the dramatic decay of light transmission inside glass fiber, rather than fundamental physical effects such as scattering as many physicists thought at that time, and such impurity could be removed. This led to a worldwide study and production of high-purity glass fibers.[33] Theatrically, when Kao first proposed that such glass fiber could be used for long-distance information transfer and replace copper wires which were used for telecommunication during that era[34], his ideas were widely disbelieved; later people realized that Kao's ideas revolutionized the whole communication technology and industry.

Kao developed important techniques and configurations for glass fiber waveguides, and contributed to the development of different fiber types and system devices which met both civil and military[*] application requirements, and peripheral supporting systems for optical fiber communication[35]. In mid-1970s, he did seminal work on glass fiber fatigue strength[35]. Kao also played a key role in the engineering and commercial realisation of optical communication[35]. He visited many research institutes including Bell Laboratories and even glass factories, discussed with various people including engineers, scientists, businessmen about the techniques and improvement of glass fiber manufacture. When named the first ITT Executive Scientist, Kao launched the "Terabit Technology" program in addressing the high frequency limits of signal processing, so Kao is also known as the "Father of Terabit Technology Concept"[35]. Kao has published more than 100 papers and was granted over 30 patents[35], including the water-resistant high-strength fibers (with M.S. Maklad)[36].

Kao is also a pioneer of submarine communications cables and largely promoted this concept. He predicted in 1983 that world's seas would be littered with fiber optics, five years ahead the first such trans-oceanic cable became serviceable.[37]

Honors and awards

Academic offices

Honorary degrees

Awards

  • 1976: The Morey Award, American Ceramic Society, USA.
  • 1977: The Stewart Ballantine Medal, Franklin Institute, USA.
  • 1978: The Rank Prize, Rank Trust Fund, UK.
  • 1978: The IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award. Citation: "for making communication at optical frequencies practical by discovering, inventing, and developing the material, techniques and configurations for glass fiber waveguides and, in particular, for recognizing and proving by careful measurements in bulk glasses that silicon glass could provide the requisite low optical loss needed for a practical communication system".
  • 1979: The L. M. Ericsson International Prize, Sweden.
  • 1980: The Gold Medal, AFCEA, USA. Citation^ *: "for contribution to the application of optical fiber technology to military communications".[35]
  • 1985: The IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal.
  • 1985: The Marconi International Scientist Award, Marconi Foundation, USA.
  • 1985: The Columbus Medal of the City of Genoa, Italy.
  • 1987: The C & C Prize, Foundation for Communication and Computer Promotion, Japan.
  • 1989: The Faraday Medal, Institution of Electrical Engineers, UK.
  • 1989: The James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials, American Physical Society (APS). Citation: "for contribution to the materials research and development that resulted in practical low loss optical fibers, one of the cornerstones of optical communications technology".[52]
  • 1992: The Gold Medal of the Society, SPIE.[53]
  • 1993: The Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
  • 1995: The Gold Medal for Engineering Excellence, The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), UK.
  • 1996: The Prince Philip Medal of the Royal Academy of Engineering; in recognition of "his pioneering work which led to the invention of optical fibre and for his leadership in its engineering and commercial realisation; and for his distinguished contribution to higher education in Hong Kong".
  • 1996: The 12th Japan Prize. Citation: "for pioneering research on wide-band, low-loss optical fiber communications".
  • The 3463 Kaokuen, discovered in 1981, named after Kao in 1996.
  • 1998: The International Lecture Medal, IEE, UK.[54]
  • 1999: The Charles Stark Draper Prize (co-recipient with Robert D. Maurer and John B. MacChesney).
  • 2006: The HKIE Gold Medal Award, HKIE (The Hong Kong Institute of Engineers).[55]
  • 2009: The Nobel Prize in Physics (1/2 of the prize). Citation: "for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication".
  • November 4th, 2009: Dr. Charles Kao Day in Mountain View, California, USA.

References

  1. ^ The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009 - Press Release, Nobel Foundation, 2009-10-06, retrieved 2009-10-08
  2. ^ List of Fellows of the Royal Society 1660 – 2007
  3. ^ "The Fellowship - List of Fellows". Raeng.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  4. ^ a b "The father of optical fiber — Prof. C. K. Kao" (in Template:Zh iconTemplate:En icon). networkchinese.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. ^ ASIANOW - Asiaweek | Asian of the Century | Charles K. Kao | 12/10/99
  6. ^ Prof. Charles K Kao speaks on the impact of IT in Hong Kong from ouhk.edu.hk
  7. ^ The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009, Nobel Foundation, 2009-10-06, retrieved 2009-10-06
  8. ^ 范彦萍 (2009-10-08). "Interview of Kao's cousin (诺贝尔得主高锟的堂哥回忆:他儿时国学功底很好)" (in Template:Zh icon). 青年报. Retrieved 2009-10-09.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  9. ^ 陶家骏 (2008-06-01). "著名女教育家陶玄 Famous Female Educator 陶玄" (in Template:Zh icon). 绍兴县报 Shaoxing County News. Retrieved 2009-10-09.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  10. ^ Ifeng.com: 香港特首曾荫权祝贺高锟荣获诺贝尔物理学奖
  11. ^ a b "meantimealumni Spring 2005" (PDF). University of Greenwich. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  12. ^ Lisa Mumbach (2009-10-20). "Former IFTF Board Member". Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  13. ^ CUHK Handbook
  14. ^ "President of ASAIHL". ASAIHL. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  15. ^ "Physics 2009". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  16. ^ University of Michigan Law School: Alphabetical List with Year of Law School Graduates
  17. ^ A short biography of Kao Hieh-Hsiang
  18. ^ Legal education in modern China and modern Chinese jurisprudence
  19. ^ "参加南社纪念会姓氏录 List of Nan Society member" (in Template:Zh icon). 南社研究網 Research of Nan Society. Retrieved 2009-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  20. ^ "高平子先生简介" (in Template:Zh icon). 青岛天文网--中国科学院紫金山天文台青岛观象台/青岛市天文爱好者协会. 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2009-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  21. ^ "Lunar Crater Statistics". NASA. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  22. ^ "高锟个人简历 (The biography of Charles K. Kao)" (in Template:Zh icon). 中国新闻网. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2009-10-09. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  23. ^ a b "光纤与爱情——高锟一生的实验". 转载《明报》. 2000-03-04. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  24. ^ a b "高锟履历". 香港文汇报. 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  25. ^ "高锟非常惊喜：没想过获奖(图)". 博讯新闻网转载香港《文汇报》. 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  26. ^ Ifeng.com: 港媒年初传高锟患老年痴呆症 妻称老人家记性差
  27. ^ ScienceNet: 华裔诺奖获得者高锟将捐赠部分奖金研究老人病
  28. ^ QQ.com News 记者探访“光纤之父”高锟：顽皮慈爱的笑
  29. ^ "Fiber optic data communication: technological trends and advances (Editor: Casimer DeCusatis, ISBN 0-12-207891-8): Chapter 1 - History of Fiber Optics (by Jeff D. Montgomary); 1.3.1. Long Road to Low-Loss Fiber (Page 9-16)". Academic Press; 1st Edition (March 22, 2002). {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  30. ^ "Communication pioneers win 2009 physics Nobel". IET. Published on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Kao, K. C.; Hockham, G. A. (1966). "Dielectric-fibre surface waveguides for optical frequencies". Proc. IEE. 113 (7): 1151–1158.
  32. ^ "Chapter 1.1 - The Evolution of Fibre Optics" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  33. ^ Nobelprize.org, Nobel Prize in Physics 2009 Scientific Background (pdf.): Two revolutionary optical technologies - Optical fiber with high transmission
  34. ^ 1999 Charles Stark Draper Award Presented "Kao, who was working at ITT's Standard Telecommunications Laboratories in the 1960s, theorized about how to use light for communication instead of bulky copper wire and was the first to publicly propose the possibility of a practical application for fiber-optic telecommunication."
  35. ^ a b c d e f "Charles Kuen Kao" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  36. ^ "Water resistant high strength fibers (United States Patent 4183621)" (PDF). Filing Date: 12/29/1977; Publication Date: 01/15/1980. Retrieved 2009-11-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Building the Global Fiber Optics Superhighway (ISBN 978-0-306-46505-5 (Print) 978-0-306-46979-4 (Online)): 1, A Global Footprint" (PDF (Free Abstract)). Springer USA. May 8, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  38. ^ "Fellows - Charles K. Kao". IEEE. Retrieved 2009-10-26. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ https://db1n.sinica.edu.tw/textdb/ioconas/sfellowN.php?lang=ch&str2=ID Template:Zh icon
  40. ^ "e-Newsletter, Alumni at Queen Mary, University of London". Qmw.ac.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  41. ^ 高錕校長榮休誌念各界歡送惜別依依, a September 1996 article from the Chinese University of Hong Kong alumni website Template:Zh icon
  42. ^ A chat with vice-chancellor Kao, by Midori Hiraga
  43. ^ The Standard: The day Nobel winner lost mic
  44. ^ XinhuaNet News: Macao chief congratulates Nobel Prize winner Charles Kao
  45. ^ 國立交通大學 公共事務委員會 名譽博士名單
  46. ^ 校史 - 國立交通大學時期｜民國六十八年（一九七九）以後
  47. ^ "Honorary Degrees" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  48. ^ Università degli Studi di Padova - Honoris causa degrees
  49. ^ The University of Hull - Honorary Graduates – part two
  50. ^ Yale Honorary Degree Recipients
  51. ^ Honorary degrees Awarded by Princeton University - 2000s
  52. ^ APS 1989 James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials Recipient from the American Physical Society
  53. ^ SPIE: The Gold Medal of the Society
  54. ^ News from the Institution of Electrical Engineer (PDF), IEE, Issue 14, June 1998, retrieved 2009-11-03 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ The Hong Kong Institute of Engineers: Press Releases - 香港工程師學會榮譽大獎、會長特設成就獎及傑出青年工程師獎2006 (The HKIE Gold Medal Award, the President's Award & Young Engineer of the Year Award 2006)

Further reading

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles K. Kao.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal
1985 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Japan Prize
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics
with Willard Boyle and George E. Smith
2009 		Most recent
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
1987–1996 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_K._Kao&oldid=323656429"