On the 70th Birthday of corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Victor A. Soifer

Abstract

The article briefly tells about the life and scientific work of professor, doctor of Technics, corresponding member of Russian Academy of Sciences Victor Aleksandrovich Soifer - an outstanding scientist in the field of diffractive optics and computer image processing. I analyze the jubilee contribution to the development of photonics, computer optics and image analysis systems.

Keywords

• computer optics
• diffractive nanophotonics
• analysis and understanding of images
• nanoscale images processing
• optical computing

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researcher KuAI. The results of the thesis formed the basis of the monograph [ 1 ]. After defending his thesis in 1971, V.A. Soifer worked in KuAI as senior researcher, from 1971 to 1973 he was an assistant, from 1973 to 1974 he was senior lecturer, in 1974-1981 he was assistant professor. In 1975, he received a certificate of associate professor of Automated Control Systems (ACS) department, and worked as the dean of the Faculty of Computer Science KuAI from 1975 to 1983.

In 1979, V.A. Soifer defended his doctoral thesis on "Restoring the fields parameters of automation systems for experimental studies" at the St. Petersburg Electrotechnical Institute. V.A. Soifer included some of the dissertation results in the monograph [ 2 ]. In 1981 he received a degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences, and in 1982 - a certificate of professor of ACS department. In 1982 he organized the Department of Technical Cybernetics in KuAI, headed it up to the present time. In 1988, V.A. Soifer organized and became the director of the Samara branch of the Central Design Bureau for Unique Instrumentation (CDB UI) of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In 1993, Samara Branch of CDB UI was reorganized into the Image Processing Systems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPSI RAS). Until January 2015, V.A. Soifer superbly worked as director of IPSI RAS. In January 2015, V.A. Soifer was elected as the scientific head of IPSI RAS. From 1990 to 2010 he worked as the rector of Samara State Aerospace University [ 3 ]. From 2010 to the present time he is working SSAU president. Under the leadership of V.A. Soifer SSAU got the status of the national research university.

Scientific direction

V.A. Soifer created the theoretical foundations of computer optics – a new trend in information technology and optical system having a global priority. He and his disciples decided inverse problems of diffraction theory, developed iterative methods of optimization and synthesis, by computer based on the use of micro and nanotechnologies created diffractive optical elements for transformation of laser light: the focus given geometric area, selection of transverse modes, the forming selfreplicating beams. Together with his team, he studied the fundamental problems in the analysis and understanding of optical images, opto-information technology with practical applications in aerospace technology, medical diagnostics and geographic information systems. He prepared 16 doctors and 25 candidates of sciences. From 1996 to the present scientific school headed by V.A. Soifer received state support as the leading scientific schools of Russia in the field of computer optics and image processing.

Scientific results

The first scientific article by the student V.A. Soifer in collaboration with the student B.A. Esipov was published in 1967 in a collection of student research papers KuAI. It was called "The accumulation of information by repeating" [ 4 ]. It presents a method of reducing the loss of information that is transmitted in discrete binary Gaussian channel with losses.

In 1973, V.A. Soifer introduced spatial variable in the description of the generalized channel [ 5 ]. In this article, radio communication was treated as a multipath propagation environment. Even more clearly the analogy between the time radio channel and a coherent optical system, he wrote with D.D. Klovsky [ 6 ]. In this article, the authors used the optimum Karhunen-Loeve decomposition and the finite size of the antenna (this is the ultimate in optics as aperture) is considered an expansion in prolate spheroidal functions.

In August 1980, V.A. Soifer and colleagues published the first work on the synthesis of the optical element, which solves a specific task. Therefore, in 2015 we celebrate 35 years since the birth of a new scientific direction - computer optics. In this first paper [ 6 ] Academician A.M. Prokhorov and Professor I.N. Sisakyan were coauthors of Prof. V.A. Soifer. Article [ 7 ] has been devoted to the geometrical optics calculation of compensators. Compensator is the optical element forming the given wavefront (wavefront of desired shape). The main thing in this work is that the calculation of the compensator was regarded as the inverse problem of the diffraction theory.

The first work on the calculation and synthesis of focusator in longitudinal segment was published in 1981 [ 8 ]. The title of this paper was sufficiently general and set the direction of research - "Focusing of radiation into a proper space domain with computer-generated holograms." In 1982 he published a work [ 9 ], which was synthesized by reflecting focusator in the ring for the СО2 laser. The shape of the reflecting surface of the focusator was a combination of a spherical lens and axicon.

The first work on the synthesis of spatial filters for the study of transverse mode composition of laser radiation was published in 1982 [ 10 ]. In this paper authors presented the amplitude mask for creating Laguerre-Gaussian and Gauss-Hermite modes. The next (1983) filters have already been synthesized in the form of two amplitude masks for Hermite-Gaussian modes (0,0) and (0,1) [ 11 ]. Experimental studies on the measurement of the power distribution over transverse modes in an optical fiber using the spatial filters have been carried out in [ 12 ].

In 1984 V.A. Soifer with co-authors published the key article [ 13 ], devoted to Bessel-optics. This work stands alone in the scientific heritage of V.A. Soifer, it has great importance for optics. The authors proposed an optical element with a complex phase function and the argument of this phase function was a linear function of the polar angle (angular harmonic). The authors proposed the optical implementation of Hankel transform for the n-th order with the help of such diffractive optical element (DOE).

The above several papers [ 7 – 13 ] are the pioneer and define the main directions in the development of diffractive optics. Many other scientific papers on calculation and creation of diffractive optical elements and photonic devices [ 14 – 65 ] emerged based on these pioneering publications. Applying these elements and devices is relevant to solving the problems of advanced information technology and micromanipulation [ 66 ].

Community involvement and recognition

Teaching, research and administrative activities of V.A. Soifer combines with social work. He is a member of the editorial boards of scientific journals "Optoelectronics, Instrumentation and Data Processing", "Computational Technologies", "Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis (Advances in Mathematical Theory and Applications)", "Optical Memory & Neural Networks (Information Optics)", "Computer Optics" (Editor-in-Chief defining the main directions and development strategy [ 67 ]), "SPIIRAS Proceedings", "Bulletin of Samara Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences", "Bulletin of SSAU", "Mechatronics, Automation, Control", "Information and Communication Technologies". Victor A. Soifer is a member of the Interagency Council on award Prizes of the Government of the Russian Federation, the chairman of the three dissertation councils, a member of the expert group of the International Prize in Nanotechnology "RUSNANOPRIZE", a board member of the International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR), a member of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), an expert of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and Skolkovo. V.A. Soifer is a member of the Academy of Engineering Sciences, member of the Academy of Quality Problems. He is the chairman of the Public Chamber of the Samara Region.

The country's leadership noted labor achievements of V.A. Soifer by several awards: the Order of Merit; "Order of Merit for the Fatherland» IV degree and III degree; medal "For merits in the All-Russia population census", and by titles: Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation; Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; winner of the State Prize of Russia in the field of science and technology for 1992; winner of the RF Government in the field of science and technology in 2007; winner of the RF Government in the field of education in 2010; winner of the first prize of the German Society for the Promotion of Applied Computer Science; winner of the Provincial Prize for Science and Technology; winner of the Governor of the Samara region for excellence in solving technical problems; Honorary Citizen of Samara Region.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I wish Victor A. Soifer good health, inexhaustible energy, ongoing scientific curiosity, outstanding disciples and new creative achievements for the benefit of our country and science!

References

1. Klovsky DD , Soifer VA . Processing spatiotemporal signals (information channels) . Moscow: “Svyaz'” Publisher, 1976 . 207 p. [in Russian]

2. Wittich VA , Sergeev VV , Soifer VA . Image processing in automated systems for scientific research . Moscow: “Nauka” Publisher, 1982 . 214 p. [in Russian]

3. Soifer VA . Samara Aerospace University - Step into the Future . Accreditation in Education, 2008 ; 25 : 74 - 76 . [in Russian]

4. Esipov BA , Soifer VA . Collect information by repetition . Collection of students' scientific works of KuAI , 1967 ; 28 : 121 - 129 . [in Russian]

5. Soifer VA . Measurement of spatial and temporal characteristics of linear channels with scattering . Radioengineering , 1973 ; 28 ( 10 ): 12 - 17 . [in Russian]

6. Klovsky DD , Soifer VA . Optimal processing of spatiotemporal fields in channels with selective fading . Problems of Information Transmission , 1974 ; 10 ( 1 ): 73 - 79 . [in Russian]

7. Golub MA , Zhivopistsev ES , Karpeev SV , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Creating aspherical wavefronts using computer-generated holograms . Dokl. Akad. Nauk USSR , 1980 ; 253 ( 5 ). 1104 - 1108 . [in Russian]

8. Golub MA , Karpeev SV , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Focusing of radiation into a proper space domain with computer-generated holograms . Soviet Technical Physics Letters , 1981 ; 7 ( 10 ): 618 - 623 .

9. Golub MA , Degtyarova VP , Klimov AN , Popov VV , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Machine synthesis of focusing elements for CO2-laser . Soviet Technical Physics Letters , 1982 ; 8 ( 13 ): 449 - 451 .

10. Golub MA , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Synthesis of spatial filters for investigation of the transverse mode composition of coherent radiation . Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics , 1982 ; 12 ( 9 ): 1208 - 1209 .

11. Golub MA , Karpeev SV , Krivoshlykov SG , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Experimental investigation of spatial filters separating transverse modes of optical fields . Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics , 1983 ; 13 ( 8 ). 1123 - 1124 .

12. Golub MA , Karpeev SV , Krivoshlykov SG , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Spatial filter investigation of the distribution of power between transverse modes in a fiber waveguide . Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics , 1984 ; 14 ( 9 ): 1255 - 1256 .

13. Bereznyi AE , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Bessel-optics . Dokl. Akad. Nauk USSR , 1984 ; 274 ( 3 ): 605 - 608 . [in Russian]

14. Golub MA , Kazanskii NL , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA , Kharitonov SI . Diffraction calculation for an optical element which focuses into a ring . Optoelectronics, Instrumentation and Data Processing , 1987 ; 6 : 7 - 14 .

15. Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Computer Optics: achievements and problems . Computer Optics , 1989 ; 1 ( 1 ): 3 - 12 .

16. Golub MA , Kazanskii NL , Prokhorov AM , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Synthesis of optical antennae . Computer Optics , 1989 ; 1 ( 1 ): 25 - 28 .

17. Golub MA , Kazanskii NL , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Computational experiment with plane optical elements . Optoelectronics, Instrumentation and Data Processing , 1988 ; 1 : 78 - 89 .

18. Golub MA , Karpeev SV , Kazanskii NL , Mirzov AV , Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA , Uvarov GV . Spatial phase filters matched to transverse modes . Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics , 1988 ; 18 ( 3 ): 392 - 393 .

19. Golub MA , Kazanskiy NL Sisakyan IN , Soifer VA . Formation of reference wavefronts by computer optics elements . Computer Optics , 1990 ; 7 : 3 - 26 . [in Russian]

20. Golub MA , Sisakian IN , Soifer VA . Infra-red Radiation Focusators . Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 1991 ; 15 ( 5 ): 297 - 309 .

21. Khonina SN , Kotlyar VV , Uspleniev GV , Shinkarev MV , Soifer VA . The phase rotor filter . Journal of Modern Optics , 1992 ; 39 ( 5 ): 1147 - 1154 .

22. Khonina SN , Kotlyar VV , Soifer VA , Shinkaryev MV , Uspleniev GV . Trochoson. Optics Communications , 1992 ; 91 ( 3 , 4): 158 - 162 .

23. Golub MA , Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Kharitonov SI , Soifer VA . Computer generated diffractive multi-focal lens . Journal of Modern Optics , 1992 ; 39 ( 6 ): 1245 - 1251 .

24. Soifer VA , Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL . Multifocal diffractive elements . Optical Engineering , 1994 ; 33 ( 11 ): 3610 - 3615 .

25. Kazanskiy NL , Kotlyar VV , Soifer VA . Computer-aided design of diffractive optical elements . Optical Engineering , 1994 ; 33 ( 10 ): 3156 - 3166 .

26. Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA . Diffraction investigation of geometric-optical focusators into a segment . Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics , 1994 ; 96 ( 4 ): 158 - 162 .

27. Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA . Comparative analysis of different focusators into segment . Optics and Laser Technology . 1995 ; 27 ( 4 ): 207 - 213 .

28. Volkov AV , Volotovsky SG Granchak VM , Kazanskiy NL , Moiseev OYu , Soifer VA , Solovyov VS , Yakunenkova DM . Experimental study of heat transfer in a liquid photopolymerisable compositions . Technical Physics , 1995 ; 65 ( 9 ): 181 - 5 . [In Russian]

29. Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA , Tzaregorodtzev AYe . Analysis of quasiperiodic and geometric optical solutions of the problem of focusing into an axial segment . Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics , 1995 ; 101 ( 2 ): 37 - 41 .

30. Doskolovich LL , Golub MA , Kazanskiy NL , Khramov AG , Pavelyev VS , Seraphimovich PG , Soifer VA , Volotovskiy SG . Software on diffractive optics and computer generated holograms . Proceedings of SPIE , 1995 ; 2363 : 278 - 284 .

31. Kazanskiy NL , Kharitonov SI , Soifer VA . Application of a pseudogeometrical optical approach for calculation of the field formed by a focusator . Optics & Laser Technology , 1996 ; 28 ( 4 ): 297 - 300 .

32. Doskolovich LL , Kazanskii NL , Kharitonov SI , Soifer VA . A method of designing diffractive optical elements focusing into plane areas . Journal of Modern Optics , 1996 ; 43 ( 7 ): 1423 - 1433 .

33. Volkov AV , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA , Soloviev VS . Technology for forming continuous microrelief of diffractive optical elements . Computer Optics , 1997 ; 17 : 91 - 93 . [In Russian]

34. Volkov AV , Kazanskiy NL , Moiseev OJu , Soifer VA . A Method for the Diffractive Microrelief Forming Using the Layered Photoresist Growth . Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 1998 ; 29 ( 4-5 ): 281 - 288 .

35. Soifer VA , Kazanskiy NL , Kharitonov SI . Synthesis of a Binary DOE Focusing into an Arbitrary Curve, Using the Electromagnetic Approximation . Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 1998 ; 29 ( 4-5 ): 237 - 247 .

36. Volkov AV , Kotlyar VV , Moiseev OYu , Rybakov OE , Skidanov RV , Soifer VA , Khonina SN . Binary diffraction optical element focusing a Gaussian beam to a longitudinal segment . Optics and Spectroscopy . 2000 ; 89 ( 2 ): 318 - 323 .

37. Doskolovich LL , Golovashkin DL , Kazanskiy NL , Khonina SN , Kotlyar VV , Pavelyev VS , Skidanov RV , Soifer VA , Solovyev VS , Usplenyev GV , Volkov AV . Methods for Computer Design of Diffractive Optical Elements . Edited by V.A. Soifer . John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2002 : 765 p.

38. Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA , Kharitonov SI , Perlo P. A DOE to form a line-shaped directivity diagram . Journal of Modern Optics , 2004 ; 51 ( 13 ): 1999 - 2005 .

39. Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA , Perlo P , Repetto P . Design of DOEs for wavelength division and focusing . Journal of Modern Optics , 2005 ; 52 ( 6 ): 917 - 926 .

40. Soifer VA . Nanophotonics and diffractive optics . Computer Optics , 2008 ; 32 ( 2 ): 110 - 118 . [in Russian]

41. Nalimov AG , Kovalev AA , Kotlyar VV , Soifer VA . Simulation of 3d nanophotonics device for coupling light into planar waveguide . Computer Optics , 2009 ; 33 ( 1 ): 4 - 9 . [in Russian]

42. Bezus EA , Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA , Kharitonov SI , Pizzi M , Perlo P. The design of the diffractive optical elements to focus surface plasmons . Computer Optics , 2009 ; 33 ( 2 ): 185 - 192 . [in Russian]

43. Soifer VA , Kotlyar VV , Doskolovich LL . Diffractive optical elements in nanofotonics devices . Computer Optics , 2009 ; 33 ( 4 ): 352 - 368 . [in Russian]

44. Kotlyar VV , Kovalev AA , Soifer VA . Subwavelength Focusing with a Mikaelian Planar Lens . Optical Memory and Neural Networks (Information Optics) , 2010 ; 19 ( 4 ): 273 - 278 .

45. Bykov DA , Doskolovich LL , Soifer VA , Kazanskiy NL . Extraordinary Magneto-Optical Effect of a Change in the Phase of Diffraction Orders in Dielectric Diffraction Gratings . Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics , 2010 ; 111 ( 6 ): 967 - 974 . doi: 10 .1134/S1063776110120095.

46. Bezus EA , Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA , Kharitonov SI . Design of diffractive lenses for focusing surface plasmons . Journal of Optics , 2010 ; 12 ( 1 ): 015001 .

47. Kotlyar VV , Nalimov AG , Shanina MI , Soifer VA , O'Faolein L . Zone plate on a film for hard x-ray radiation . Computer Optics , 2011 ; 35 ( 1 ): 36 - 41 . [in Russian]

48. Soifer VA , Kupriyanov A.V. Analysis and recognition of the nanoscale images: conventional approach and novel problem statement . Computer Optics , 2011 ; 35 ( 2 ): 136 - 144 . [in Russian]

49. Nalimov AG , Kotlyar VV , Soifer VA . Modeling of an image forming by a zone plate in x-ray . Computer Optics , 2011 ; 35 ( 3 ): 290 - 296 . [in Russian]

50. Stafeev SS , O'Faolain L , Shanina MI , Kotlyar VV , Soifer VA . Subwavelength focusing using fresnel zone plate with focal length of 532nm . Computer Optics , 2011 ; 35 ( 4 ): 460 - 461 . [in Russian]

51. Bezus EA , Doskolovich LL , Kazanskiy NL , Soifer VA . Scattering in elements of plasmon optics suppressed by two-layer dielectric structures . Technical Physics Letters , 2011 ; 37 ( 12 ): 1091 - 1095 . doi: 10 .1134/S1063785011120030.

52. Gavrilov AV , Soifer VA . Prospects of optical analog computer development . Computer Optics , 2012 ; 36 ( 2 ): 149 - 150 .

53. Kovalev AA , Kotlyar VV , Stafeev SS , Soifer VA . Diffraction of light by a spiral phase plate with piecewise-continuous microrelief . Computer Optics , 2012 ; 36 ( 2 ): 205 - 210 . [in Russian]

54. Kupriyanov AV , Soifer VA . On the observability of the crystal lattice with the images of their projections . Computer Optics , 2012 ; 36 ( 2 ): 249 - 256 . [in Russian]

55. Golovastikov NV , Bykov DA , Doskolovich LL , Soifer VA . Temporal differentiation of optical signals in reflection using resonant gratings . Computer Optics , 2012 ; 36 ( 2 ): 151 - 157 . [in Russian]

56. Golovastikov NV , Bykov DA , Doskolovich LL , Soifer VA . Resonant diffraction gratings for differentiation of optical signals in reflection and transmission . Computer Optics , 2013 ; 37 ( 2 ): 138 - 145 . [in Russian]

57. Golovastikov NV , Bykov DA , Doskolovich LL . Spatial integration of optical beams using phase-shifted Bragg grating . Computer Optics , 2014 ; 38 ( 3 ): 372 - 376 . [in Russian]

58. Kotlyar VV , Kovalev AA , Soifer VA . Diffraction-free asymmetric elegant bessel beams with fractional orbital angular momentum . Computer Optics , 2014 ; 38 ( 1 ): 4 - 10 . [in Russian]

59. Kotlyar VV , Kovalev AA , Skidanov RV , Soifer VA . Rotating elegant Bessel-Gaussian beams . Computer Optics , 2014 ; 38 ( 2 ): 162 - 170 . [in Russian]

60. Soifer VA , Golovashkin DL , Doskolovich LL , Kazansky NL , Kotlyar VV , Pavelev VS , Skidanov RV , Khonina SN . Computer design of diffractive optics . Edited by V.A. Soifer . Cambridge Inter. Scien. Pub. Ltd. & Woodhead Pub . Ltd, 2012 : 896 p.

61. Soifer VA , Kovalev AA , Kotlyar VV , Doskolovich LL , Nalimov AG , Gavrilov AV , Golovashkin DL , Dyachenko PN , Khonina SN , Nesterenko DV , Pavelev VS , Shuyupova YaO , Skidanov RV. Diffractive nanophotonics . Edited by V.A. Soifer . London: CRC Press, 2014 : 704 p.

62. Bykov DA , Doskolovich LL , Bezus EA , Soifer VA . Optical computation of the Laplace operator using phase-shifted Bragg grating . Optics Express , 2014 ; 22 ( 21 ): 25084 - 25092 .

63. Doskolovich LL , Bykov DA , Bezus EA , Soifer VA . Spatial differentiation of optical beams using phase-shifted Bragg grating . Optics Letters , 2014 ; 39 ( 5 ): 1278 - 1281 .

64. Khonina SN , Karpeev SV , Alferov SV , Soifer VA . Generation of cylindrical vector beams of high orders using uniaxial crystals . Journal of Optics , 2015 ; 17 ( 6 ): 065001 .

65. Kotlyar VV , Kovalev AA , Soifer VA . Nonparaxial Hankel vortex beams of the first and second types . Computer Optics , 2015 ; 39 ( 3 ): 299 - 304 . [in Russian]

66. Soifer VA . Diffractive Nanophotonics and Advanced Information Technologies. Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences , 2014 ; 84 ( 1 ): 9 - 18 .

67. Soifer VA . Quo vadis . Computer Optics , 2014 ; 38 ( 4 ): 589 .