Rumson Resident, A Nobel Prize Winner, Dies At 98

RUMSON, NJ - Former Bell Labs scientist, Nobel Prize recipient and longtime Rumson resident Arthur Ashkin has died at the age of 98.

Ashkin was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 at the age of 96 for his role in the invention of optical tweezers, a specialized laser that can capture living bacteria without harming them. The tweezers are now widely used in medical research to investigate biological systems.

"This new tool allowed Ashkin to realize an old dream of science-fiction — using the radiation pressure of light to move physical objects," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said of Ashkin’s achievements.

The scientist's death early last week was announced in an obituary by The Optical Society:

“Many considered Ashkin the father of laser radiation pressure,” the obituary reads. “His work in the area of optical trapping and manipulation of small dielectric particles using optical gradient forces would become the foundation for the future of physics research in ultracold and trapped atoms. Ashkin achieved a number of “firsts.” He was the first to observe optical gradient forces on atoms, the first to perform laser cooling of atoms known as “optical molasses,” and the first to observe optical trapping of atoms.”

Ashkin was born on Sept. 2, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY and grew up with an affinity for science. He studied physics at Columbia University and went on to obtain his Ph.D. in nuclear physics at Cornell University in 1952. Ashkin worked at the Columbia Radiation Lab from 1942 to 1945 while enlisted in the Army. He then moved to Bell Labs in 1952 where he worked until 1991.

The highly-regarded scientist resided in Rumson with his wife Aline, a former chemistry instructor at Holmdel High School, according to the Asbury Park Press. The pair met while studying at Cornell University, moving to Rumson in 1967 where they raised three children and five grandchildren.

Throughout his career, Ashkin was also the recipient of the OSA’s Frederick Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Endowment (1998), Charles Hard Townes Award (1988), APS’s Joseph F. Keithley Award For Advances in Measurement Science (2003), the Rank Prize in Opto-Electronics (1993), the IEEE Photonics Society’s Quantum Electronics Award (1987) and the Harvey Prize for physics (2004), according to the OSA website.

Colleague John Bjorkholm noted in the obituary that “Art was an outstanding scientist and a gentleman in the finest sense of the words. He was an original thinker and demonstrated exceptional creativity throughout his career. He was a humble person, not one to take credit when credit wasn't due. As a result, he was highly trusted by his colleagues. No one ever had any qualms about discussing their hottest ideas with Art. Quite simply, he was a great man.”

Have a news tip? Email nicole.rosenthal@patch.com. Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app, download here. Follow Rumson-Fair Haven Patch on Facebook.