Faculty
James Gary Eden
Gilmore Family Endowed Professorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Professor
136A Everitt Lab, MC-702
1406 W. Green
Urbana, Illinois 61801
(217) 333-4157
PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois, January 1976
Research Statement:
Professor Eden is Director of the Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, a laboratory devoted to developing new sources and applications of coherent radiation in the spectral region below 500 nm. The Laboratory has discovered several new lasers and amplifiers in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet, including the first ultraviolet and violet fiber lasers, ultralow threshold, diode laser-pumped visible fiber lasers, and the diatomic CdI, CdBr, and ZnI molecular lasers in the visible and near-IR. With his students, Prof. Eden has developed laser spectroscopic techniques which have resulted in the discovery of Rydberg series in the rare gas dimers, and the first observation of free-bound (photoassociation) spectra of thermal atomic pairs. Recent accomplishments of his research group include the generation and modulation of coherent UV by atomic wavepackets on the 100 fs time scale, and the development of microdischarge devices and arrays. For the latter, he and several colleagues have been awarded eleven patents and several others are pending.
Research Interests:
- Plasma Displays and Spectroscopic Diagnostics
- Visible and Ultraviolet Lasers and Laser Spectroscopy
- Short Wavelength Photophysics
- Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy
- Microdischarge and Microresonator Devices
- Laser Magnetometry
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Teaching
- Who's Who in American Education (7th, 8th eds., (2006-2008)
- Accenture Outstanding Faculty Advising Award, College of Engineering (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007)
- Multi-Year Faculty Achievement Award, College of Engineering (2007)
- Who's Who Among America's Teachers (5th, 6th eds. 1998-2000)
- Listed in "Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students" (more than 12 times). Nominated for 1983 and 2000 Everitt Teaching Award.
- ECE Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award (2000)
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Research
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2008)
- C.E.K. Mees Medal, Optical Society of America (2007)
- Fulbright-Israel Distinguished Chair in the Natural Sciences and Engineering (2007-2008)
- Gilmore Family Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2007- )
- Listed in Who's Who in the World (23rd-25th eds., (2006-2008)
- Aron Kressel Award, IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (2005)
- Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (2003-2005)
- IEEE Third Millennium Medal (2000)
- Distinguished Service Award, IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) (1996)
- James F. Towey University Scholar, UIUC (1996-1999)
- IBM Research Award, UIUC (1994)
- Fellow, American Physical Society (1992)
- Beckman Research Award (1989)
- Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (1988)
- Associate, Center for Advanced Study, UIUC (1987-1988)
- Fellow, Optical Society of America (1986)
- Rank Prize Funds Lecturer (Photochemical Vapor Deposition), Malvern, England (April 1984)
- Research Publication Award, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC (1978)
- Eta Kappa Nu
- Tau Beta Pi
- Sigma Xi (NRL Chapter)
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Public Service
- Honorary Baseball Coach, University of Illinois (March 24, 2000)
- Campus Charitable Fund Drive Section Leader, 1998 Campaign
Invited Lectures
- Recent developments in large arrays of microcavity plasma devices: Physics and applications
Patents
- J. G. Eden, S.-J. Park, and C. J. Wagner, “Method of Making Arrays of Thin Sheet Microdischarge Devices,” (Application submitted to the U.S. PTO on October 31, 2007).