Hermann Anton Haus was a pioneering Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, holding one of the highest academic honors at the institution for the final 17 years of his distinguished career. Born on August 8, 1925, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, he earned his BS from Union College in 1949, followed by MS and Electrical Engineering degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1951, and completed his ScD at MIT in 1954. He joined the MIT faculty immediately after graduation, progressing through the ranks from Assistant Professor in 1954 to Associate Professor in 1958, Professor in 1962, and Elihu Thomson Professor in 1973 before being named Institute Professor in 1986, a position he held until his death in 2003. His nearly half-century tenure at MIT established him as one of the institution's most influential scholars in electrical engineering and applied physics.
Professor Haus made seminal contributions to quantum optics and optical communications, fundamentally advancing the understanding of quantum noise in optical systems and pioneering techniques for generating ultra-short laser pulses. His groundbreaking work with Dr. C.V. Shank on the quarter-wave shifted distributed feedback laser became a favored design for transoceanic communication systems, while his research on solitons or solitary waves enabled distortion-free transmission over vast distances in fiber-optic cables. These innovations directly facilitated the development of high-speed voice and data communications infrastructure connecting continents through undersea cables, revolutionizing global telecommunications. The practical applications of his ultra-short pulse research extended beyond communications to medical fields including eye surgery, medical imaging, and precision timekeeping, demonstrating the profound translational impact of his theoretical work.
Haus authored or co-authored eight books and nearly 300 journal articles, leaving an enduring scholarly legacy that continues to influence optical engineering and quantum electronics. He received the National Medal of Science from President Clinton in 1995, the highest scientific honor in the United States, along with the Optical Society of America's Frederic Ives Medal and Charles Hard Townes Medal for his fundamental contributions to quantum optics. As a dedicated educator, he transformed the teaching of electromagnetic field theory at MIT, incorporating practical engineering examples and demonstrations that shaped generations of electrical engineers. His election to both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering recognized his exceptional standing as one of the rare engineers honored by both prestigious institutions, cementing his legacy as a visionary whose work bridged theoretical physics and revolutionary communication technologies.
