Historia
This page is dedicated to preserving the memory and scientific legacy of Professor Stanisław Kielich,
founder of the Nonlinear Optics Division at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
Professor Stanisław Kielich
Academic Career
- Born: November 10, 1925, Czempiń
- 1955: Graduated from Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, University of Poznań
- 1961: PhD in Physics
- 1964: Habilitation
- 1971: Extraordinary Professor
- 1976: Ordinary Professor
- 1983: Corresponding Member of Polish Academy of Sciences
- October 15, 1993: Death of Prof. Stanisław Kielich
Key Achievements
- Author or co-author of over 300 scientific publications
- Supervised more than 20 PhD students
- 6 of his students achieved habilitation
- 3 of his students became professors
- Considered one of the founders of molecular nonlinear optics
Historical Timeline
January 30, 1919
Faculty of Philosophy was set up (included natural sciences)
May 7, 1919
University of Poznań – official inauguration
1958
The first papers by S. Kielich (with A. Piekara) – Nonlinear Optics started in Poznań
1963
S. Kielich became head of Dielectric Optics Laboratory
1966
Department of Molecular Physics under S. Kielich divorced from Department of Experimental Physics
Four Laboratories:
- Laboratory of Molecular Optics (S. Kielich)
- Laser Laboratory (F. Kaczmarek)
- Electro- and Magneto-optics Laboratory (M. Surma)
- Laboratory of X-Ray Structural Studies (Z. Bohynski)
September 18, 1969
Institute of Physics was founded within the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
– headed by S. Kielich (1969-1973)
December 1, 1972
Laboratory of Molecular Optics was converted into the NONLINEAR OPTICS DIVISION
1964-1980
REK and EKON Conferences (Radiospectroscopy, Quantum Electronics and Nonlinear Optics) – organized in Poznań
October 15, 1993
Death of Prof. Stanisław Kielich
Prof. Ryszard Tanaś became head of Nonlinear Optics Division
July-October, 1995
Division moved to new housing in the university complex Morasko
2017
Prof. Krzysztof Grygiel became head of the Nonlinear Optics Division
(Note: Prof. Grygiel was a PhD student of Prof. Kielich, receiving his doctorate in 1988)
January 1, 2021
Establishment of the Institute of Spintronics and Quantum Information (ISQI)
The Nonlinear Optics Division became part of this new institute along with the Department of Mesoscopic Physics
and the Department of Nanostructures Physics
2021-Present
Prof. Karol Bartkiewicz heads the division, now renamed as the Department of Quantum Information
This transformation reflects the evolution from classical nonlinear optics to quantum technologies,
while maintaining the tradition of excellence established by Prof. Kielich
Evolution of Research
Laboratory of Molecular Optics (1966-1972)
- Propagation of strong light beam in matter
- Theory of multiphoton processes
- Harmonics generation of light
- Optical induced anisotropy
- Multipole interactions in electromagnetic fields
- Self-focusing of light
- Linear and nonlinear light scattering
- Magneto-optical effects
- Molecular Rayleigh scattering
- Induced Raman scattering
Nonlinear Optics Division (1973-2025)
- Linear and nonlinear light scattering
- Theory of multiphoton processes
- Harmonics light generation
- Nonlinear electro- and magneto-optical phenomena
- Anisotropy light scattering – double and triple correlations
- Raman and Rayleigh scattering on macromolecules
- Collision induced scattering
- Hyper-Raman and hyper-Rayleigh scattering
- Optical Kerr effect
- Nonlinear birefringence in crystals
- Photon statistics in nonlinear optics
- Photon antibunching in harmonic generation
Department of Quantum Information (2025-Present)
- Quantum information processing
- Quantum state engineering
- Quantum entanglement and correlations
- Quantum cryptography and communication
- Quantum computing and algorithms
- Quantum metrology and sensing
- Non-classical light generation
- Squeezed states and photon statistics
- Quantum thermodynamics
- Open quantum systems
- Quantum machine learning
- Hybrid quantum-classical systems
- Quantum nonlinear optics
- Circuit and cavity quantum electrodynamics
From classical nonlinear optics pioneered by Prof. Kielich to cutting-edge quantum technologies – a continuous evolution of excellence in optical and quantum sciences.
Major Scientific Achievements
Pre-laser Era Innovation (1956-1959)
Statistical molecular theory of nonlinear processes in polar liquids under strong electric, magnetic, or optical fields. First calculations of absolute change in refractive index caused by strong light intensity – achieved before lasers were invented!
Dielectric Saturation Theory
Development of general semi-macroscopic theory of dielectric saturation (Piekara effect) and its application to multi-component systems and macromolecular solutions, including density and polarizability fluctuation effects.
Light Scattering Theory
Statistical molecular theory of light scattering in liquids and multi-component systems, accounting for molecular polarizability changes caused by multipolar electric fields.
Multiphoton Scattering Pioneer
Pioneering work on multiphoton scattering of laser light. Theoretically predicted three-photon Rayleigh and Raman scattering, experimentally discovered in 1965. In 1971, with French physicists, discovered cooperative three-photon scattering.
Nonlinear Optical Activity
Theory of optical induction of electrical, magnetic, or optical anisotropy in isotropic bodies. Theoretically predicted nonlinear optical activity was experimentally discovered in 1971 in Moscow.
Quantum Optics
In later years, pioneered research in quantum optics with his students, investigating possibilities of obtaining non-classical states of electromagnetic field, including photon antibunching and squeezed states of light.
Scientific Publications
Books
- Podstawy Optyki Nieliniowej (Fundamentals of Nonlinear Optics)
Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, Poznań, 1972/1973 - Molekularna Optyka Nieliniowa (Molecular Nonlinear Optics)
PWN, Warszawa-Poznań, 1977
Russian translation: Nauka, Moscow, 1981 - Modern Nonlinear Optics (co-editor with M. Evans)
3 volumes, Wiley, New York, 1993/1994 - Interaction Laser-Molecule (with J.R. Lalanne, A. Ducasse)
Polytechnica, Paris 1994; English: Wiley, 1996
Publication Statistics
- 300+ scientific publications (1957-1994)
- 2,412 total citations
- h-index: 27
- 15.17 average citations per item
- Published in top journals including:
- Journal of Chemical Physics
- Physical Review
- Acta Physica Polonica
- Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
- Optics Communications
Awards and Recognition
National Honors
- Ministry Awards – multiple times
- City of Poznań Award (1969)
- National Education Medal
- Golden Cross of Merit
- Order of Polonia Restituta, Knight’s Cross (1976)
- Order of Polonia Restituta, Officer’s Cross (1983)
- Marian Smoluchowski Medal (1993)
Academic Positions
- Corresponding Member of Polish Academy of Sciences
- Chairman of EKON Conference Organizing Committee
- Member of Physics Committee of PAN (1972-1980)
- Member of Editorial Board – Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
- Member of Editorial Board – Le Journal de Physique
- Member of Editorial Board – Optica Acta
- Member of Editorial Board – Quantum Optics
Continuing Legacy
Professor Stanisław Kielich’s pioneering work in nonlinear optics continues to inspire new generations of physicists. His vision transformed the Department of Molecular Physics into a world-renowned center for nonlinear optics research.
Commemorations
- 📚 2010: Special Issue of Journal of Computational Methods in Science and Engineering:
„Atomic and molecular nonlinear optics: A homage to the pioneering work of Stanisław Kielich” - 🏫 2001: Gimnazjum im. prof. Stanisława Kielicha in Czempiń
(Stanisław Kielich Gymnasium) - 🎓 2013: The Faculty of Physics named one of the lecture halls
the Stanisław Kielich Auditorium
QEINO 2013 – 20th Anniversary Commemorative Symposium
The Third Poznań Symposium on Quantum Engineering,
Information, and Nonlinear Optics
October 15-17, 2013
Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Stanisław Kielich’s Death
Twenty years after Professor Kielich’s passing, the international quantum optics community gathered in Poznań for a major symposium organized by Adam Mickiewicz University and the University of Zielona Góra. The event brought together leading scientists from around the world to discuss advances in the fields Professor Kielich helped establish.
Distinguished International Speakers included:
• Georges Boudebs (Université d’Angers, France)
• Werner Vogel (University of Rostock, Germany)
• Alexandre Zagoskin (Loughborough University, UK)
• Qiongyi He (Peking University, China)
• Zbigniew Ficek (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia)
• George Maroulis (University of Patras, Greece)
• Igor Lyubchanskii (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)
• And many distinguished Polish scientists including the Horodecki brothers, Marek Żukowski, and Karol Życzkowski
Main organizers: Prof. Ryszard Tanaś (Kielich’s successor), Tadeusz Bancewicz, and Adam Miranowicz
100th Anniversary Symposium – 2025
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary
of the Birth of Stanisław Kielich
November 6-7, 2025
Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
To celebrate the centenary of Professor Kielich’s birth, the Quantum Information Department (the modern incarnation of his Nonlinear Optics Division) and the Nanomaterials Physics Department are organizing a major international symposium.
This symposium will bring together world-renowned scientists to discuss cutting-edge topics that represent the evolution of Professor Kielich’s pioneering work, including:
Special memorial talks will be presented by Prof. Ryszard Tanaś and Prof. Wojciech Nawrocik, sharing their personal memories of Professor Kielich.
Historical Photo Gallery
Professor in the seventies
Department of Molecular Physics
Nonlinear Optics Division in 1973
In France (1978)
Prof. Kielich as Chairman (EKON)
Prof. Piekara in our Institute