Archive: RLE Currents

From 1987 to 1999, the Laboratory produced a remarkable publication called RLE Currents. Written by Dorothy A. Fleischer, with additional content and editorial guidance from Professor Jonathan Allen (RLE’s fifth Director), RLE Currents set a new standard of writing quality for a publication produced by an MIT department, laboratory or center. Its articles—aimed at the public with a serious interest in science and technology—provide an in-depth survey of the research topics occupying the Research Laboratory of Electronics at the end of the 20th century.

In addition, most issues traced then-contemporary RLE research to their historical antecedents in the Laboratory, revealing the evolving nature of scientific discovery in RLE and its personalities. These issues are often enriched by revealing interviews with RLE investigators and alumni who recall the evolution of their own careers at RLE and MIT.

Principal photographer for RLE Currents was John F. Cook. Design and production were by Everett Design, Inc. Production and editing assistance was provided by other RLE staff. RLE Undercurrents was written by Barbara P. Passero.

RLE Currents | Fall 1999 (12.5mb PDF)

The Pulse of Ultrafast Optics Research in RLE — Introduction
Ultrafast Optics Group at RLE — The research of RLE Professors Hermann Haus and Erich Ippen
Pioneering New Applications for OCT Research — Imaging soft tissues with echoes of light
Faculty Profile — RLE Professor James Fujimoto
Director’s Message — Message from RLE Director Jonathan Allen
The Importance of Being Ultrashort — RLE Professor Hermann Haus discusses ultrashort light pulses
Circuit Breakers — Awards and Honors at RLE

RLE Currents | Spring 1999 (20.9mb PDF)

Computers as an Enabling Technology for Basic Research in RLE — Introduction
Optimizing Scientific Computation — Computational Methods in RLE Research
Human Dimensions of Scientific Computation — Computation in RLE Research on Living Systems
Enabling New Technologies — Computer Tools and Techniques for Emerging Technologies
Director’s Message — Message from RLE Director Jonathan Allen
Visualizing the Past at RLE — Ivan E. Sutherland, creator of Sketchpad, the first interactive computer graphics program
A Sampling of Computational Modeling and Analysis — Several methods in general use
Leaving a Mark Without a Trace — Digital Watermarking at RLE
Technological Innovation in Education — Computers as Learning Environments
Acoustic Phonetics — A new book by RLE Professor Kenneth N. Stevens
Circuit Breakers — Awards and Honors at RLE
In Memoriam

RLE Currents | Fall 1998 (18.5mb PDF)

The Foundations of Next-Generation Electronics: Condensed-Matter Physics at RLE
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Harnessing the Energy of a Single Electron
Photonic Bandgap Engineering: Lighting the Way to Quantum Circuits
Faculty Profile: Professor Marc A. Kastner
RLE Connections
Circuit Breakers
RLE’s Fiscal Group
MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Appoints New Department Heads
Alumni Notes
The Lighter Side of Photonic Crystals

RLE Currents | Spring 1998 (13.6mb PDF)

Changing the Image of Broadcast Technology: RLE’s Advanced Television and Signal Processing Group
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Looking Back at Broadcast Research in RLE
Ernst F.W. Alexanderson
The Advanced Television Research Program at RLE
Faculty Profile: Professor Jae S. Lim
Emmy Heralds the Digital TV Revolution
RLE Connections
RLE Labscope: Professor Raymond C. Ashoori
Building 20: Final Curtain Call
Building 20: For the Record

RLE Currents | Fall 1997 (19.5mb PDF)

Crossing the Bridge to Biomedical and Bioengineering Research: RLE’s Mass General Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear Connection
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile: Professor Dennis M. Freeman
Massachusetts General Hospital
RLE Connections
The Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology: Making Healthy Connections
The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary: A Clear Vision, A Sound Future
Eaton-Peabody Laboratory: From the Beginning
Memorial: Dorothea C. Scanlon
Memorial: Helen (Lewis) Thomas

RLE Currents | Spring 1997 (14.9mb PDF)

Frontiers of Atomic Physics at RLE Research in RLE’s Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Group.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile: Professor Wolfgang Ketterle
Tools of the Trade
RLE Connections
Bose-Einstein Condensate: What Does It Matter?
Memorial: Albert G. Hill
Memorial: Charles E. Molnar

RLE Currents | Fall 1996 (20mb PDF)

“Measuring the Return On Investment in University-Based Research” – Dr. Charles M. Vest, MIT President
The second of two special issues of RLE currents marking the laboratory’s 50th anniversary (1946–1996)
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Profiles of RLE Alumni Company Founders
- Robert N. Noyce
- Gordon E. Moore
- H. Richard Johnson
- David I. Kosowsky
- Ronald A. Howard
- Lawrence G. Roberts
- J. William Poduska, Jr.
- Richard N. Spann
- Norman E. Gaut
- Robert J. Shillman
- Lutz P. Henckels

RLE Currents | Spring 1996 (24.5mb PDF)

“On the Road to Success with RLE’s Alumni Company Founders”
The first of two special issues of RLE currents marking the laboratory’s 50th anniversary (1946–1996) .
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Profiles of RLE Alumni Company Founders
- John G. Linvill
- George N. Hatsopoulos
- Amar G. Bose
- L. Dennis Shapiro
- Irwin M. Jacobs
- Thomas Kailath
- James C. Bliss
- Ivan E. Sutherland
- Donald H. Steinbrecher
- Steven G. Finn

RLE Currents | Spring 1994 (16.3mb PDF)

Solid State Research at RLE “Solid-State Secrets: Probing the Mysteries of Surface Physics at RLE.” Research in RLE’s Surfaces and Interfaces Group.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile of Dean Robert J. Birgeneau
New Eye on the World
Memorial: Lee A. DuBridge
Memorial: Julius A. Stratton
History of RLE Surfaces and Interfaces Research

RLE Currents | Fall 1993 (11.2mb PDF)

“Making Waves: Electromagnetics Research at RLE.” Research in RLE’s Electromagnetics Group.
Faculty Profile of Professor Jin Au Kong
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
MIT Research at Round Hill
History of RLE Electromagnetics Research

RLE Currents | Spring 1993 (18.8mb PDF)

Measuring the Dimensions of Sensory Communication at RLE. Research in RLE’s Sensory Communication Group as well as the Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Research Consortium.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile of Professor Louis D. Braida
From a Biophysicist Who Came to Supper
History of RLE Sensory Communication Research

RLE Currents | Fall 1992 (13.6mb PDF)

Discovering the Universal Importance of Plasmas at RLE Research in RLE’s Plasma Physics Group.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
“Faculty Profile” of Professor Emeritus William P. Allis
Lights out for Last LINC
History of RLE Plasma Physics Research

RLE Currents | Spring 1992 (14.6mb PDF)

“Chipping Away at VLSI Computer-Aided Design”
Research in RLE’s Circuits and Systems Group.
Faculty Profile of Professor John L. Wyatt.
History of VLSI Computer-Aided Design at RLE
“What About Bob?” The Radio Astronomy Group’s investigation of a hurricane.

RLE Currents | Fall 1991 (9.1mb PDF)

“Pathways to the Future at RLE.” Special issue devoted to the future of RLE research and the rapid growth of technology.

RLE Currents | Spring 1991 (18.4mb PDF)

The MIT Radiation Laboratory: RLE’s Microwave Heritage. Special issue celebrating the 50th Anniversary of MIT’s Radiation Laboratory.
“Profiles” on RLE’s first four directors: Professors Julius A. Stratton, Albert G. Hill, Jerome B. Wiesner, and Henry J. Zimmermann.
Director’s Message by Professor Jonathan Allen
Building with a Soul — MIT’s Building 20
A Picture of War
Please be Seated
RadLab Reading List

RLE Currents | Fall 1990 (8mb PDF)

“Radio Astronomy at RLE: All Things Celestial.” Research in RLE’s Radio Astronomy Group.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
“Faculty Profile” of Professor Bernard F. Burke.
“The Right Stuff”
Dr. Alan Barrett Memorium
History of RLE Radio Astronomy Research

RLE Currents | Spring 1990 (10.3mb PDF)

Image Processing at RLE: Focusing on the Future. Various investigators involved in image processing research, including RLE’s Advanced Television Research Program.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
“Faculty Profile” of Professor William F. Schreiber.
History of Image Processing and Transmission at RLE

RLE Currents | December 1989 (7.2mb PDF)

Auditory Physiology: The Earmark of RLE Research. Research in RLE’s Auditory Physiology Group.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile: Professor Nelson Y.-S. Kiang
History of Auditory Physiology at RLE

RLE Currents | June 1989 (7.4mb PDF)

Digital Signal Processing at RLE: Beyond the Realm of the Disc. Research in RLE’s Digital Signal Processing Group.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile: Professor Alan V. Oppenheim.
Obituary of Dennis Klatt
History of RLE Digital Signal Processing Research

RLE Currents | December 1988 (8.9mb PDF)

Materials Research: Meeting the Challenge of Microelectronics Technology. RLE’s Submicron Structures Laboratory and various investigators involved in electronic and optical materials research.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile: Professor Henry I. Smith.
History of RLE Materials Research

RLE Currents | June 1988 (9.4mb PDF)

Focus: Optics Research at RLE: Optics research in the Optics and Devices Group and by various investigators at RLE.
Director’s Message — Professor Jonathan Allen
Faculty Profile: Professor Hermann A. Haus.
Look up in the Sky–It’s LAN!
History of RLE Optics Research

RLE Currents | December 1987 (5.3mb PDF)