Jonathan C. Knight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Cave Knight
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| Born | 17 June 1964 Lusaka, Zambia
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
| Known for | Photonic-crystal fiber Optical Fibers |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, photonics |
| Institutions | University of Bath |
| Thesis | Whispering gallery mode microlaser in a capillary fibre (1993) |
| Doctoral advisor | G N Robertson, H S T Driver |
Jonathan C. Knight is a clever British scientist born in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1964. He is a physicist, which means he studies how the world works, especially things like light and energy. He is a top professor at the University of Bath in the UK. He also helps lead the university's research as the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Jonathan Knight's School Days
Jonathan Knight went to the University of Cape Town in South Africa. There, he earned several degrees, including his PhD. For his PhD, he studied tiny lasers that work in a special way, like how sound echoes in a round room. After university, he continued his research in Paris, France, and then at the University of Southampton in the UK.
Exploring Light and Fibers
Professor Knight is very interested in how light behaves inside special materials. He especially loves studying optical fibers. These are tiny strands of glass or plastic that can carry light over long distances, like how the internet works!
Working with other smart scientists, he helped create new kinds of optical fibers. These fibers have amazing features that were not possible before. His work has led to many cool inventions, including:
- A new type of light source called a "supercontinuum." Think of it like a super-bright, rainbow-colored light!
- Ways to send strong, short bursts of laser light through fibers.
- New tools for quantum physics, which studies the smallest parts of matter.
In 2014, he and another scientist, Dr. Belardi, came up with a new design for hollow-core fibers. These fibers have empty spaces inside them, which can guide light in unique ways. He also helped create a new kind of laser that can make special infrared light. This was a big challenge for scientists for a long time!
Awards and Special Recognition
Professor Knight has received many important awards for his amazing work:
- In 2019, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
- He won the Rank Prize in Optoelectronics in 2018.
- In 2012, he received a prize from the Institute of Physics.
- He became a Fellow of the Optical Society of America in 2011.
- He also received a special research fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust in 2005.
