Charles awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics

“for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication”

Charles Kao and wife Gwen with Nobel medal

The Masters of Light

Gwen Kao’s acceptance speech on behalf of Charles
December 8th, 2009, at Stockholm University

Charles pioneered the use of a single mode dielectric (glass) optical fibre waveguide for long distance communications at a time when the losses of the best available glasses made the idea seem impossible.  The idea  was in competition with the technology of Long-haul Microwave Waveguide, which was being developed at several laboratories around the world.

Souvenir Hong Kong stamp, issued to commemorate Charles Kao’s 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics

Plaque Unveiling in Harlow Water Gardens, March 25, 2011

Plaque in Harlow UTC, unveiled in 2012 by Mr Chen Futau from the Chinese Embassy

Finally, the Washington Post demonstrated some sloppy journalism when it announced the Nobel prize with:

Forgive the question, but have you had a colonoscopy yet? If the answer is yes, you can thank Charles K. Kao…….

But No: Charles Kao did not invent the fibre endoscope (which used an array of fibres to communicate a visual image).