UCF College of Optics and Photonics alumni Arthur Dogariu, Ph.D., ’97, an optical research scientist at Princeton University, has been inducted as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America for his contributions to the field of optics.
“I am an experimentalist and my passion stems from working on the frontiers of optical science in the lab, and trying to push them forward,” said Dogariu. “I am deeply honored to be recognized for my achievements by my colleagues.”
The research Dogariu currently conducts out of Princeton’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering focuses on the interaction between ultrafast lasers and matter at the level of atoms and molecules, with applications for remote sensing and optical diagnostics.
“Based on the interaction between laser light and matter, we can detect and measure different properties of solid, liquids and gases from a distance for scientific, engineering, medical and industrial applications,” said Dogariu. “Moreover, we have demonstrated that the air itself can be made to generate laser light enabling breakthrough applications in atmospheric remote sensing.”
Dogariu has been published over 200 times for his work in optics, and has five inventions and innovations patented relating to laser spectroscopy and optical diagnostics.
“Everything in optical physics research is about understanding the interaction between light and matter and harnessing its power,” he said. “If you’re able to manipulate the multiple variables involved, a discovery may occur.”
The connections and opportunities that landed Dogariu in Princeton, New Jersey is something he largely associates with his time as a graduate student at the University of Central Florida.
“I came to UCF as an international student, so the period spent at UCF coincided with a period of my life in which I was adapting to a new environment, language, and culture,” said Dogariu. “My experience as a graduate student at UCF shaped my life and provided a laser-focus clarity to my future career in optics.”