History | Optics Research Group

History

The history of the Optics Research Group since 1947.

1947

Prof. dr. A.C.S. van Heel (1899-1966)

Founder of the Optics Group

1918 – 1925: Physics study in Leiden; concluded with a dissertation, “The solid body optically examined at low temperatures”, supervisor H. Kamerlingh Onnes.
1924 – 1928: (chief) assistant TH Delft (General Sciences).
Research Topics: Alignment techniques, Optical design, Optical manufacturing, Thin optical layers.
1939: Founding of the N.V. van Leers Optical Industry later known as the “De Oude Delft” together with Oscar van Leer.
1941: Establishment of the Technical-Physical Service, TNO-TH (Dorgelo initiative).
1947: Appointed professor of the Optics group.

1967

Prof. dr. H. de Lang

1967 – 1969
Background: Philips Research.
Research topics: Thin layer optics, optical metrology, anisotropic media and optical cavities.

1969

Dr. ir. C.A.J. Simons (1937 – 2009)

Transitional period (1969 – 1970)
Dissertation: “The application of individual functions in the practice of optical design”, supervisor Prof. H. de Lang (1969).

Dr. ir. W. van Vonno (1941)

Thesis: “Measurement of the thickness and refractive index of evaporated thin films, supervisor Prof. H. de Lang (1968).

1970

Prof. dr. ir. H.J. Frankena

Background: electromagnetism.
Thesis: “Scattering of electromagnetic waves by a class of waveguide discontinuities”, supervisor prof. A.T. de Hoop (1967).
Research topics: Optical manufacturing, Integrated Optics, Holography and Metrology.
1998: Emeritaat.

1998

Prof. dr. ir. Joseph J.M. Braat

1988: Part-time professor in geometrical optics at Delft University of Technology.
1998: Professor of the Optics Research Group.
Research topics: Extreme ultraviolet lithography, optical aperture synthesis, high density optical recording and Terahertz imaging. Joseph Braat retired in 2008.
1991: Joseph Braat is one of the founders of the European Optical Society (EOS).
2008: Emeritaat
2019: Joseph Braat, and co-author Peter Török published the book “Imaging Optics”.

2008

Prof. dr. H. Paul Urbach

Present leader of the Optics Research Group

In 1986 Paul Urbach completed his PhD thesis at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands on the optimization of hydrodynamic propulsion.
In 1986, he joined Philips Research Laboratory in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
2000: Part-time professor in diffraction optics at Delft University of Technology.