An Illuminating Legacy in Photonics
Professor Dr Harith Ahmad has greatly contributed to the development and application of photonics technology in Malaysia.
The commercial potential of his research in photonics provides the framework in strengthening Malaysia's position as a vibrant and competitive nation where cutting-edge capabilities and technology are available to businesses and communities.
A passion for physics
From an early age, Professor Dr Harith has been interested in physics and mathematics, subjects which he calls his “strong points”. He considers physics the mother of all sciences as he finds its principles to be all around us in the natural world.
Unsurprisingly, Professor Dr. Harith obtained a first-class degree in physics during his undergraduate studies at the University of Malaya. He continued his studies with a master's degree in high voltage technology and a doctorate in laser technology from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom.
In 1983, he began his academic career as a lecturer at the University of Malaya and currently holds the position of Professor of Photonics. Apart from academia, Professor Dr. Harith has held several notable appointments and positions. These include Programme Head for the National Top-Down Project on Photonics at MOSTI since 1999, Programme Head for the Optical Planar Waveguides Project since 2001, Senior Principal Analyst at the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) in the Prime Minister's Department since 2001, and Reviewer for IEEE Photonics Technology Letters in the US. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia.
In the glow of knowledge: A researcher's quest in photonics technology
Professor Dr Harith is a dedicated researcher in the field of photonics technology with areas of expertise in Fibre Optics And Waveguides (Plannar Lightwave Circuit), Quantum Electronics And Lasers (Laser Technology), and Fibre Optics & Waveguides (Fibre Optic Technology).
His research has initiated the development of devices and techniques for industrial and scientific applications, and jointly holds 10 patents in photonics products with Telekom Malaysia.
His research contributions in laser technology, optics, and optical fibres encompass designing and fabricating semiconductor-pumped solid-state lasers, developing methodologies for laser shadowgraphy, investigating the interaction of electromagnetic waves in crystals, designing a fibre laser, and creating tunable solid-state lasers.
Under his leadership, the Laser Research Group at the Department of Physics, University of Malaya, were the first in Malaysia to initiate work in optical fibres in the mid 1990s and moved into fabrications of optical circuits in the early 2000s.
From photonics, to nanophotonics
Never one to rest on his laurels and always pushing the boundaries of knowledge, Professor Dr Harith was also instrumental in initiating and developing a photonics laboratory and the only planar lightwave fabrication facility in the region.
He is researching nanophotonics for its myriad potential applications, as it not only offers new avenues for research but also facilitates the development of innovative products.
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The information in this award recipient's profile is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of the time the award was presented. Any subsequent changes, updates, or developments in the individual's life or achievements may not be reflected in this profile.