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News from the NTT Atsugi, Ibaraki, Musashino, and Yokosuka R&D Centers

Executive Director of NTT Basic Research Laboratories Retires

Dr. Tatsuya Kimura, Executive Director of NTT Basic Research Laboratories, announced his retirement from NTT in June, 1994. He assumed new managerial responsibilities at NEC in July, accepting a position as Vice President of NEC's Central Research Laboratories.

Dr. Kimura was the perhaps the first NTT researcher to fully understand the potential of lasers and optics for communications. In 1967, shortly after receiving a Ph.D. in quantum electronics from the University of Tokyo and joining NTT Basic Research Labs, he gave a dramatic experimental demonstration of this potential by sending optical information at 100 Mb/s using modulated He-Ne lasers. With the advent of low loss optical fibers, he quickly moved to develop long-wavelength and coherent fiber transmission systems. He and his co-workers developed a wide variety of optical devices for communications, including gas, solid-state, and semiconductor lasers, light-emitting diodes, modulators, optical-frequency multiplexers, photodetectors, PM-AM converters, optical-isolators, as well as optical fibers. He was designated a IEEE Fellow in 1987 for contributions to advanced optical fiber transmission including long wavelength and coherent optical systems, and the characterization of optical devices and fibers.

First as a researcher, then as executive manager of the physical sciences division, and then as director, Dr. Kimura exercised a profound influence on the development of Basic Research Labs. He strongly believed that research excellence required a full commitment to basic science, and continually supported efforts in that direction. Also, he strongly encouraged full participation of foreign researchers in all aspects of the laboratory's work, first as invited scientists, then as postdoctoral and permanent researchers. Basic Research Labs required a new research culture, he believed, neither Japanese nor foreign but a mixture of both. Under his leadership, NTT Basic Research Labs initiated perhaps the first postdoctoral system at a major industrial research facility in Japan.

Those of us who enjoyed his support and friendship remember him as readily accessible and easy to talk to. He encouraged us and was patient when results were not readily forthcoming. When results were obtained, he publicized them. He always made us feel a part of the ongoing work. We wish him well.

Best Submission Contest

In order to invite more readers to participate in this newsletter, the editorial board has decided to begin a contest for the best submission to Global News. Therefore, from the next issue, a comittee composed of the members of the editorial board will convene to select the best contribution to the issue. The winner (who may be working at NTT, or from abroad) will receive a superb gift! So don't miss your chance, and send your story, interesting, funny, shocking...or whatever, to waynelui@will.ntt.jp.

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