Biography
Peter J. Delfyett received the B.E.(E.E.) degree from The City College of New York in 1981, the M.S. degree in EE from The University of Rochester in 1983, the M. Phil and Ph.D. degrees from The Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York in 1987 and 1988, respectively. His Ph.D. thesis was focused on developing a real time ultrafast spectroscopic probe to study molecular and phonon dynamics in condensed matter using optical phase conjugation techniques.
After obtaining the Ph.D. degree, he joined Bell Communication Research as a Member of the Technical Staff, where he concentrated his efforts towards generating ultrafast high power optical pulses from semiconductor diode lasers, for applications in applied photonic networks. Some of his technical accomplishments were the development of the world’s fastest, most powerful modelocked semiconductor laser diode, the demonstration of an optically distributed clocking network for high speed digital switches and supercomputer applications, and the first observation of the optical nonlinearity induced by the cooling of highly excited electron-hole pairs in semiconductor optical amplifiers. While at Bellcore, Dr. Delfyett received numerous awards for his technical achievements in these areas, including the Bellcore Synergy Award and the Bellcore Award of Appreciation.
Dr. Delfyett joined the faculty at the College of Optics & Photonics and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) at the University of Central Florida in 1993, and currently holds the positions of University of Central Florida Trustee Chair Professor of Optics, ECE & Physics.
Dr. Delfyett served as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics (2001-2006), and served on the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America. He served as an Associate Editor of IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, was Executive Editor of IEEE LEOS Newsletter (1995-2000) and sits on the Presidential Science Advisory Council of the Orlando Science Center. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, Fellow of IEEE/LEOS, was a member of the Board of Governors of IEEE-LEOS (2000-2002), and is also a member of Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Sigma Xi, and SPIE. Dr. Delfyett has been awarded the 1992 YMCA New Jersey Black Achievement Award, the 1993 National Black Engineer of the Year Award – Most Promising Engineer, the University Distinguished Research Award ’99, and highlighted in Design News’ “Engineering Achievement Awards”. In addition, Dr. Delfyett has been awarded the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Faculty Fellow Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, which is awarded to the Nation’s top 20 young scientists. Dr. Delfyett has published over 500 articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings, has been awarded 30 United States Patents, and has been highlighted on ‘C-SPAN’, “mainstreekweek.com” and in “Career Encounters”, a PBS Special on technical careers in the optics and photonics field. Dr. Delfyett was awarded the 1999 University Distinguished Researcher of the Year Award, the 2000 Black Engineer of the Year Award – Outstanding Alumnus Achievement, and the 2000 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. He was awarded the University of Central Florida’s 2001 Pegasus Professor Award which is the highest honor awarded by the University. He is also a Founding Member in NSF’s Scientists and Engineers in the School Program, which is a program to teach 8th graders about the benefits of science, engineering and technology in society. In 2003, Dr. Delfyett received the Technology Innovation Award from the Orlando Economic Development Commission. He was selected as one of the “50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science in 2004” and as a “Science Trailblazer in 2005 and 2006” by Career Communications Group and Science Spectrum Magazine. Dr. Delfyett has also endeavored to transfer technology to the private sector, and helped to found “Raydiance, Inc.” which is a spin-off company developing high power, ultrafast laser systems, based on Dr. Delfyett’s research, for applications in medicine, defense, material processing, biotech and other key technological markets. Dr. Delfyett was also elected to serve 2 terms as President of the National Society of Black Physicists (2008-2012). Most recently, he was awarded the APS Edward Bouchet Award for his significant scientific contributions in the area of ultrafast optical device physics and semiconductor diode based ultrafast lasers, and for his exemplary and continuing efforts in the career development of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering.
Awards & Honors
- International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) Fellow
- American Physical Society (APS) Fellow
- IEEE Photonics Society Fellow
- Optical Society of America (OSA) Fellow
- 2020 IEEE Photonics Society William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award
- 2019 Excellence in Graduate Teaching College Award
- 2014 Florida Academy of Science’s 2014 Medalist
- 2013 National Academy of Inventors Fellow
- 2013 Letter of Appreciation – SPIE
- 2013 Faculty Excellence for Mentoring Doctoral Students
- 2013 College Research Incentive Award (RIA)
- 2012 Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students
- 2012 College Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award
- 2012 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award
- 2011 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award
- 2011 APS Edward Bouchet Award
- 2010 American Physical Society Edward Bouchet Award
- 2010 IEEE Photonic Society Graduate Student Fellowship
- 2010 SPIE Educational Scholarship in Optical Science and Engineering
- 2010 Incubic/Milton Chang Travel Award to attend CLEO
- 2006 Science Spectrum Trailblazer
- 2005 District Advocate for the American Physical Society
- 2005 Science Spectrum Outstanding Black Professional in Science
- 2003 Technology Innovation Award
- 2003 UCF Millionaire’s Club
- 2002 Pegasus Professor Award
- 2002 UCF Distinguished Research Professor Award
- 2002 UCF Millionaire’s Club
- 2001 UCF Nguzo Saba Award
- 2000 Research Incentive Award (RIA)
Research Group
Students
Publications
C. Shirpurkar, J. Zang, K.Y. Kang, D. Carlson, S.P. Yu, E. Lucas, S.V. Pericherla, M. Guidry, D. Lukin, G.H. Ahn, J. Lu, L. Trask, F. Aflatouni, J. Vuckovic, S.B. Papp, and P.J. Delfyett "Photonic crystal resonators for inverse-designed multi-dimensional optical interconnects" Optics Letters, 47(12), pp. 3063-3066 (2022)
R. Bustos-Ramirez, C. Shirpurkar, S. Pericherla, L.R. Trask, T.C. Briles, J.R. Stone, S.P. Yu, A. Bhardwaj, G.E. Hoefler, S.B. Papp and P.J. Delfyett "Synchronization of Electro-Optically Modulated Kerr Soliton to a Chip-Scale Mode-Locked Laser PIC via Regenerative Harmonic Injection Locking” (THIS IS A "TOP SCORED PAPER" at OFC; invited for submission to JLT)." Journal of Lightwave Technology, 40(6), pp. 1742-1748 (2022)
R. Bustos-Ramirez, L.R. Trask, A. Bhardwaj, G.E. Hoefler, F.A. Kish and P.J. Delfyett "Direct chip-scale optical frequency divider via regenerative harmonic injection locking" Optics Letters, 46(4), pp. 908-911 (2021)
M. Yessenov, B. Bhaduri, P.J. Delfyett and A.F. Abouraddy "Free-space optical delay line using space-time wave packets" Nature Communications, 11(1), A. 5782 (2020)
A. Bhardwaj, G.E. Hoefler, R. Bustos-Ramirez, A. Dentai, M.E. Plascak, F. Kish, P.J. Delfyett and M.C. Wu "A monolithically integrated racetrack colliding-pulse mode-locked laser with pulse-picking modulator" IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 56(4) (2020)
M. Malinowski, R. Bustos Ramirez, J.-E Tremblay, G. F. Comacho-Gonzalez, M. C. Wu, P.J. Delfyett, and S. Fathpour, "Towards on-chip self-referenced frequency comb sources based on semiconductor mode-locked lasers" Micromachines, 10(6), 391 (2019)
P.J. Delfyett, A. Klee, K. Bagnell, P. Juodawlkis, J. Plant, and A. Zaman ""Exploring the limits of semiconductor-laser-based optical frequency combs" (this is an "Editor's Choice" paper)." Applied Optics, 58(13), pp. D39-D49 (2019)
R. Bustos Ramirez, M. E. Plascak, K. Bagnell, A. Bhardwaj, J. Ferrara, G.E. Hoefler, F.A. Kish, M.C. Wu and P.J. Delfyett "Repetition rate stabilization and optical axial mode linewidth reduction of a chip-scale MLL using regenerative multitone injection locking" Journal of Lightwave Technology, 36(14), pp. 2948-2954 (2018)
K. Bagnell, A. Klee, P.J. Delfyett, J. Plant, and P. Juodawlkis "Demonstration of a highly stable 10 GHz optical frequency comb with low timing jitter from a SCOWA-based harmonically mode-locked nested cavity laser" Optics Letters, 43(10), pp. 2396-2399 (2018)
M.E. Plascak, R. Bustos Ramirez, K. Bagnell, and P.J. Delfyett "Tunable broadband electro-optic comb generation with an optically filtered optoelectronic oscillator" IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 30(4), pp. 335-338 (2018)
P.J. Delfyett, A. Ardey, S.P. Bhooplapur, and E. Sarailou "InP-based device technologies for signal processing using ultrafast frequency combs" IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 24(1), 1100513 (2018)
S.P. Bhooplapur, A. Klee, and P.J. Delfyett "Line-by-Line Pulse-Shaping at GHz Modulation Frequencies With an Injection-Locked VCSEL Array" IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 29(15), pp. 1241-1244 (2017)
M. Malinowski, A. Rao, P. J. Delfyett, and S. Fathpour "Optical Frequency Comb Generation by Pulsed Pumping" APL Photonics, vol. 2, p. 066101, May 2017. (2017)
A. Ardey, E. Sarailou, and P.J. Delfyett "High-Q transfer in nonlinearly coupled mode-locked semiconductor lasers" IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, 35(1), pp.54-60 (2017)
A. Rao, M. Malinowski, A. Honardoost, J. R. Talukder, P. Rabiei, P. J. Delfyett, and S. Fathpour "Second-Harmonic Generation in Periodically-Poled Thin Film Lithium Niobate Wafer-Bonded on Silicon" Optics Express, vol. 24, pp. 29941, December 2016. (2016)
E. Sarailou and P.J. Delfyett "Injection-locked semiconductor laser-based frequency comb for modulation applications in RF analog photonics" Optics Letters 41(13), pp.2990-2993 (2016)
S. Ozharar, I. Ozdur, P.J. Delfyett "Multi-function optoelectronic gate" Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 57(4), pp.969-972 (2015)
S. Ozharar, I. Ozdur, P. J. Delfyett, , "Multi-Function Optoelectronic Gate, " Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, AID MOP29001 (2014)
I Ozdur, S Ozharar, and PJ Delfyett "Simultaneous low noise radio frequency tone and narrow linewidth optical comb generation from a regeneratively mode-locked laser" Optical Engineering 53(10) (2014)
Edris Sarailou, Abhijeet Ardey and Peter J. Delfyett "A Linearized Intensity Modulator for Photonic Analog-to-Digital Conversion using an Injection-Locked Mode-Locked Laser" IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, 32(21), pp. 3440-3445 (2014)
Alumni
PhD
Ricardo Bustos Ramirez, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2021Kristina Bagnell, Optics Ph.D., Summer 2017
Anthony Klee, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2016
Edris Sarailou, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2015
Marcus Bagnell, Optics Ph.D., Fall 2014
Sharad Bhooplapur, Optics Ph.D., Fall 2014
Abhijeet Ardey, Physics Ph.D., Summer 2014
Dat Nguyen, Physics Ph.D., Summer 2013
Josue Davila-Rodriguez, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2013
Charles Williams, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2013
Nazanin Hoghooghi, Optics Ph.D., Summer 2012
Umar Piracha, Electrical Engineering Ph.D., Spring 2012
Dimitrios Mandridis, Optics Ph.D., Summer 2011
Ibrahim Ozdur, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2011
Ji-Myung Kim, Optics Ph.D., Summer 2010
Sarper Ozharar, Optics Ph.D., Fall 2008
Franklyn Quinlan, Optics Ph.D., Summer 2008
Shinwook Lee, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2008
Myoung-Taek Choi, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2007
Wangkuen Lee, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2007
Luis Archundia-Berra, Optics Ph.D., Fall 2006
Kyungbum Kim, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2006
Robert Stegeman, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2006
Bojan Resan, Optics Ph.D., Fall 2004
Michael Mielke, Optics Ph.D., Fall 2003
Tolga Yilmaz, Optics Ph.D., Spring 2003
Christopher Depriest, Physics Ph.D., Spring 2002
Sangyoun Gee, Physics Ph.D., Spring 2000
Brian Mathason, Electrical Engineering Ph.D., Spring 2000
Hong Shi, Electrical Engineering Ph.D., Spring 1998
MS
Michael Plascak, Optics M.S., Spring 2018Henock Legesse, Optics M.S., Fall 2009
Scott Rozzo, Optics M.S., Spring 2008
Max Obando, Optics M.S., Spring 2006
Erica Wells, Optics M.S., Spring 2003
Jennifer Evans, Optics M.S., Spring 2001
Ikuko Nitta, Optics M.S., Spring 2000
D. Wesley Webb, Optics M.S., Spring 1999