Emil Wolf

Emil Wolf is a distinguished academic and Wilson Professor of Optical Physics at the University of Rochester, affiliated with the College of Optics and Photonics. He holds a B.Sc. (1945) and Ph.D. (1948) in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Bristol, and a D.Sc. in Optics from the University of Edinburgh (1955). Before joining the University of Rochester in 1959 as Associate Professor of Optics, he held research positions at Cambridge University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Manchester.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics, University of Bristol (1945)
• Ph.D. in Physics, University of Bristol (1948)
• D.Sc. in Optics, University of Edinburgh (1955)

Research Interests: Wolf is renowned for his contributions to optics and quantum optics. He co-authored the seminal textbook Principles of Optics (1959, 7th edition) with Nobel laureate Max Born, and Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics (1995) with Leonard Mandel. His work spans theoretical optics, coherence theory, and the foundations of quantum optics. He has also edited the Progress in Optics series since 1961, now spanning 43 volumes.

Awards:

• Frederic Ives Medal (1978)
• Michelson Medal (1980)
• Max Born Award (1987)

Grants & Labs: As a leader in optical physics, Wolf has contributed to foundational research through his editorship of Progress in Optics and collaborations across institutions. His work has been supported by longstanding academic affiliations and international recognition.