A12: Indeed, I met many inspiring people at Bell Labs, which I consider a great privilege. James Gordon, for instance, was someone I initially knew only through his work on nonlinearity in fibers. Learning more about his pioneering efforts on incorporating quantum effects in optical communication and the Gordon-Holevo capacity limit revealed the depth of his intellect, which was extraordinary. On a personal level, James was also fantastic. He has the best sense of humor of anybody I know. After his passing, I learned from his wife that he rarely used books, preferring to derive everything from first principles, a rare skill today.
Andy Chraplyvy, who hired me, also left a lasting impression. As my first boss, he brought me to the business unit early on, helping me understand the commercial aspects vital to our work. His guidance was crucial in shaping my approach to research and scientific writing.
Then there is Gerard Foschini, known for inventing MIMO, who also made contributions to optics, particularly in polarization-mode dispersion. Working with him not only expanded my knowledge in fiber capacity but also helped me approach problems effectively, it’s also what I learned from all these people.
I was also so fortunate to interact with Arthur Ashkin, another mentor. He had an incredible imagination. For instance, he invented optical tweezers, which earned him a Nobel Prize in 2018. I learned from him that many areas we assume are fully understood still hold undiscovered secrets. His ability to rethink “settled matters” and uncover new insights was truly inspiring. For instance, with the invention of the optical tweezers, he saw the potential in focusing a laser in a way that no one else had considered. This ability to look deeply into problems and find new approaches was one of his greatest strengths.
Group photo of Arthur Ashkin (left), Gary Boyd (middle) and René-Jean Essiambre (right) in René’s office at the Crawford Hill Laboratory in Holmdel, New Jersey