Goodbye, Orazio

Orazio Svelto, one of the pillars of our department, has passed away at the age of 89.

A man of great value, even before being a scientist, he was a charismatic teacher and an exemplary mentor.

Born in Maglie, in the province of Lecce, on 21 February 1936, he graduated in Nuclear Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano and then began his career in the field of quantum electronics at Stanford University in the early 1960s.

On his return to Italy, he created and led a research group in the field of lasers, initiating a series of internationally renowned studies.

Svelto also founded the CNR Centre for Quantum Electronics and Electronic Instrumentation at the then Institute of Physics of the Politecnico di Milano and taught Quantum Electronics for many years.

His famous treatise Principles of Lasers has been a global reference for the study of the interaction between radiation and matter for decades, and he received numerous prestigious awards during his career. These ranged from the Charles H. Townes Award from the Optical Society of America to the Quantum Electronics Prize from the European Physical Society.

Many of us were fortunate enough to work with him and appreciate his critical spirit and extraordinary inventiveness.

His enthusiasm, lively intellectual curiosity and profound scientific expertise accompanied us until his last day and today leave us with an immense void.

Orazio inspired generations of researchers and will continue to do so: his example and scientific legacy will remain a constant source of inspiration.

Thank you, Orazio.