Professor Stefano Longhi stands as a distinguished authority in the field of quantum optics and photonics, currently serving as Full Professor of Physics at Politecnico di Milano since 2016. Born in Bergamo, Italy in 1967, he earned his Electronic Engineering degree cum laude from Politecnico di Milano in 1992 followed by a PhD in Physics from Politecnico di Torino in 1995. His academic journey included a formative research period at MIT in the ultrafast optics group led by Professors Erich P. Ippen and H.A. Haus. Longhi's career trajectory at Politecnico di Milano progressed from Assistant Professor of General Physics in 1998 to Associate Professor of Physics of Matter from 2003 to 2015, establishing him as a prominent figure in theoretical and applied optics before his promotion to Full Professor.
Longhi's groundbreaking research has profoundly influenced the fields of nonlinear optics, quantum photonics, and laser physics through his extensive body of scholarly work comprising over 360 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious international journals, including approximately 150 single-author papers that demonstrate his independent scholarly contributions. His work has garnered significant recognition with more than 29,000 citations and an impressive H-index of 87, positioning him among Italy's most influential physicists. His theoretical frameworks in quantum optics have provided critical insights into light-matter interactions and photon dynamics, establishing foundational principles that have advanced both fundamental understanding and practical applications in photonics. The exceptional impact of his research is reflected in his standing as the 24th-ranked Italian physicist according to authoritative scientific indices, with his contributions fundamentally reshaping contemporary approaches to optical phenomena.
Beyond his research excellence, Professor Longhi has demonstrated significant leadership within the global physics community through his service as a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and as a member of the Optical Society of America, prestigious recognitions that highlight his scholarly standing. His contributions have been formally acknowledged through distinguished awards including the 2003 Fresnel Prize from the European Physical Society for outstanding contributions to optics and photonics and the 2015 Edoardo Kramer Prize from the Istituto Lombardo Accademia di Science e Lettere for exceptional theoretical work in optics and quantum optics. Longhi has also served on the advisory board of the Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics from 2006 to 2015, influencing the direction of scholarly discourse in his field. Currently dedicating his expertise to teaching Principles and Applications of Lasers to physical engineering students, Professor Longhi continues to inspire the next generation of physicists while maintaining an active research program that promises further innovations at the intersection of quantum theory and optical technologies.
