About
In Memoriam: Russell W. Dreyfus,
Feb 27, 2023
Russell W. Dreyfus, Optica Fellow, has passed away. Dreyfus was most known for his solid-state physics and laser research work at the International Business Machines (IBM) Thomas Watson Research Center.
Dreyfus received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Purdue University in 1951 and remained at the school to pursue his master of science in physics for semiconductors in 1953. In 1956, he went on to Yale University to pursue his PhD in Philosophy, focusing on condensed matter and materials physics. Before completing his doctorate degree, Dreyfus was offered a position at IBM Thomas Watson Research Center in 1958. He completed his PhD in 1960 and remained at IBM until his retirement in 1993.
Before heading into retirement, Dreyfus worked as a visiting Research Professor at the University of Aix-Marseille in France, the University of Hull in England, and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) at the University of Madrid in Spain.
Dreyfus was recognized as a Fellow of Optica in 1990, as well as by the American Physical Society (APS) in 1974. In addition to his Fellow status at Optica, he participated in technical groups such as Optical Material Studies, Photonic Detection, Environmental Sensing, Short Wavelength Sources and Attosecond/High Field Physics, Laser Systems, and Applied Spectroscopy.
Optica and the scientific community mourn his loss.
