Oleg G. Okhotnikov

Oleg G. Okhotnikov (April 8, 1951 – April 8, 2016) was an Russian scientist working in the field of fiber laser, ultrafast optics, nonlinear optics and optical fibers
. 
==Biography==
Oleg Okhotnikov was born in 1951 in Moscow, Russia, an older son of technician Genady Okhotnikov and kindergarten teacher Nina Okhotnikova. The greater part of his childhood was spent near Yurmala, in Latvia. 
He got basic education in general school number 886 of Moscow. 
Okhotnikov got M.Sc. in Applied Physics from National Research University of Electronic Technology in year 1974. 
In year 1985, married with teacher Elena Okhotnikova (Brodskaja, born 1959). Has two kids: son Andrey (born 1986) and daughter Evgenia (born 1988). During years 1985 - 1993 his family lived in Moscow.
During years 1993 - 2000 lived in Porto (Portugal).
In year 2000 migrated to Finland with the family and settle in city of Tampere. 
Passed away April 08 2016 in Tampere, Finland.
==Academic carrier==
Received his Ph.D. in Laser Physics at Lebedev Physical Institute ( Moscow, 1981) and D.Sc. ( Moscow, 1992) in Laser Physics at General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Science.
During years 1974-1992 worked at various scientific institutes in Russian Academy of Science. Progressed from the Research Engineer to a Research Group Leader. 
In year 1993 was invited by Jose Salcedo to University of Porto.
During 1993-2000 was a Fellow Senior Researcher, Research Manager and Professor at Centro de Optoelectrónica, Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC Unidade de Tecnologia
Optoelectrónica e Electrónica), Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
In year 2000 by invitation of joined University of Tampere.
During years 2000-2016 (until the end of his life) Okhotnikov has been Professor and also head of Ultrafast and Intense Optics (UIO) group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), at University of Tampere, Finland.
Since 2008, he has been participating in research with the Laboratory of Quantum Electronics, Ulyanovsk State University, Ulyanovsk, Russia.
In 2014 Oleg was invited by the Nobel Committee for Physics (Royal Swedish Academy of Science) to apply for The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2015. 
==Fiber lasers==
Produced over over 280 journal and 400 conference publications on optics, lasers, fiber optics, ultrashort pulses . Holds number of patents(US, EU, Finland, Russia), many of which represented pioneering work in the area of fiber lasers. 
Altogether 22 PhD students optained their doctorates under Prof. Okhotnokov guidance.. 
Most noticeable contribution was for sub-picosecond laser pulse generation , optical amplifiers and in Tapered double-clad fiber
. 
Many high-power fiber lasers are based on double-clad fiber. 
Tapered double-clad fiber (T-DCF) has tapered core and cladding which enables power scaling of amplifiers and lasers without thermal lensing mode instability.
The T-DCF amplifier was first demonstrated at Tampere University in 2008 by the research group of Professor Oleg Okhotnikov. The technology was granted a patent in 2013 as a means to overcome the nonlinear optical effects which previously limited the power-scaling of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers.V. Filippov, Yu. Chamorovskii, O. G. Okhotnikov and M. Pessa, US patent No.8,433,168 B2 “Active optical fiber and method for fabricating an active optical fiber”.
Okhotnikov was co-founder and CTO of the Reflekron company specialized on manufacturing of ulta-fast lasers.
Oleg was editor of two books on a semiconductor and fiber lasers: 
* Semiconductor Disk Lasers: Physics and Technology .
* Fiber Lasers .
Category:1951 births
Category:People from Moscow
Category:Alumni of National Research University of Electronic Technology
Category:Russian people
Category:Scientists
Category:2016 deaths