Optica has awarded honorary membership to Paul B. Corkum, a researcher whose work helped establish attosecond science, according to citybiz. The outlet reported the honor on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
The designation places Corkum among the select group the organization recognizes with its honorary category. Citybiz described him as a pioneer in the field, a characterization that reflects his standing in the optics and photonics community.
Attosecond science deals with some of the shortest time scales ever measured, and Corkum's name is closely tied to its development. Optica, formerly known as OSA, is a professional society for optics and photonics, and honorary membership is one of the ways it acknowledges sustained contributions to the discipline.
The citybiz report did not include further details about the citation or the timing of the announcement beyond the publication date. No additional information about Corkum's affiliations or prior Optica honors was provided in the source material.
What to watch next: whether Optica publishes a fuller citation or announcement detailing the specific contributions behind the honorary membership.
