IEEE History Center: Herwig Kogelnik Abstract

Herwig Kogelnik studied at the Vienna Institute of Technology in Austria. He received a Ph.D. in physics from Oxford University. He has made important contributions to laser technologies. He has actively participated in a number of IEEE committees. He has been the recipient of many prices, including one for the invention of the distributed feedback laser.

Herwig Kogelnik begins this interview with his early interests and education in Vienna and Oxford. He discusses his research interests, which ranged from microwave fields to plasma physics. He talks about his decision to come to the United States and to join the Bell Labs where he helped improved gas laser. He discusses laser developments and their applications. He mentions his participation at IEEE. The interview concludes with a discussion of wavelength division multiplexing and an IEEE Spectrum issue.

1-2	Early interests and higher education
2-3	Decision to come to the US and work for Bell Labs
4-5	Discussion on the laser breakthrough and its relation to communications
6-7	Discussion on various laser applications
7-8	Involvement and activities in IEEE and pieces of advice
9-10	Discussion on wavelength division multiplexing
11-12	Benefits of laser technologies