Gérard Mourou
Nobel Laureate in Physics (2018), NAE Member, CAS Foreign Member, PKU Chair Professor
Abstract
Nobel Prize in Physics laureate and Peking University Chair Professor Gérard Mourou, renowned for his groundbreaking work in extreme light physics, will deliver a lecture on the transformative impact of Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) technology. Co-invented with Donna Strickland in 1985, CPA revolutionized laser science by enabling the generation of ultra-short, high-intensity optical pulses, paving the way for advancements in nuclear physics, particle acceleration, and medical applications such as laser eye surgery and cancer therapy. Professor Mourou will explore how this pioneering technique bridges optics and high-energy physics, offering new tools to study matter under extreme conditions and pushing the boundaries of scientific research. The lecture will also highlight future directions in laser-driven science, showcasing its potential to address fundamental challenges across multiple disciplines.
This event presents a unique opportunity to engage with one of the most influential figures in modern physics, whose work continues to shape cutting-edge research and technological innovation worldwide.
Speaker's Introduction
Born in Albertville, France in June 1944, Professor Gérard Mourou earned his Bachelor's degree in Physics from Université Grenoble Alpes in 1967, followed by a Master's degree (1970) and Ph.D. (1973) in Physics from Université Paris VI. From 1970 to 1989, he conducted research at Université Laval (Canada), UC San Diego (USA), École Polytechnique (France), and the University of Rochester (USA). He served as A.D. Moore Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan (1989-2004), Professor at École Polytechnique (2005-2019), and continued at Institut Polytechnique de Paris until September 2024. In October 2024, he joined the School of Physics at Peking University.
A pioneer in ultrafast laser science, Professor Mourou invented Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) technology, which revolutionized high-power laser systems and established new frontiers in ultrafast science. His work enabled groundbreaking applications in healthcare, industrial manufacturing, and fundamental research, cementing his global reputation as an exceptionally innovative physicist in ultrashort ultra-intense laser physics.
His honors include the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, the Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science (APS), Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize (OSA), Charles Hard Townes Award, and Golden Goose Award (AAAS). He is elected Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Austrian Academy of Sciences.
