David Richardson (physicist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Richardson
FRS FREng
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Richardson in 2018
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| Born |
David John Richardson
1964 (age 60–61) |
| Education | Taunton’s College |
| Alma mater | University of Sussex |
| Awards | Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2013); John Tyndall Award (2024); IEEE Photonics Award (2025) |
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| Institutions | Microsoft, University of Southampton |
| Thesis | The production of, and experiments with, monochromatic ultra cold neutrons (1989) |
David John Richardson, born in 1964, is a British scientist. He studies how light and electronics work together. He is a top researcher at Microsoft in the UK.
At Microsoft, he works on a special technology called hollow core optical fiber. This fiber guides light through air, not solid glass. Before joining Microsoft, he worked for 34 years at the University of Southampton. There, he helped create amazing new optical fibers and lasers.
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Learning About Science
David Richardson went to school in Southampton, England. He studied Physics at the University of Sussex. He earned his first degree and then his PhD in 1989.
What He Does: Light and Lasers
Richardson is a leader in a field called photonics. This is the science of light. He is famous for his work on fibre optics and how they are used.
Making the Internet Faster
He has played a big part in making our internet faster. He helps increase how much data can travel through optical communication networks. This helps keep up with our growing need for more internet speed.
He has developed very powerful optical fibres. These fibers can send huge amounts of data across the internet very quickly.
Powerful Lasers
Richardson was also one of the first to show how useful small, flexible lasers can be. These are called pulsed fiber lasers. They can work with different power levels and light types.
Over many years, he has made fiber lasers much better. This has helped them become popular and used in many products. His work also includes fibers that can deliver very strong laser light. This light can be used for things like manufacturing.
