City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics

x PREFACE
bright and beautiful ideas, and fireside tales told relaxing with old friends. I
have tried to fill this book with that spirit.
I owe many people thanks for making this book possible. A generous grant
from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation gave me the time and resources for the
job. Art Singer of the Sloan Foundation supplied help and encouragement
well beyond the financial support. Victor McElheny generously helped me
with my proposal; he and John Armstrong gave thoughtful feedback on my
manuscript. My Oxford editor, Kirk Jensen, patiently guided me to tell the
story and explain the technology clearly. Thanks also to my agent, Jeanne
Hanson, and to Helen Gavaghan for telling me about the Sloan program.
The story of the origins of light guiding draws heavily on careful research
by the late Kaye Weedon, who found the earliest accounts of demonstrations
by Daniel Colladon and Jacques Babinet. Sadly, I never met Weedon, and he
never published his findings. However, he did give several lectures and gave
copies of his notes to Jeofry Courtney-Pratt, who kindly sent me copies. I wish
I could have thanked Weedon in person for pointing me in the right direction.
Many others have given generously of their time, lent me documents and
pictures, and commented on earlier drafts of parts of the book. For insight
into the early days of imaging fiber optics, I thank especially Lem Hyde, Brian
O’Brien, Jr., Walt Siegmund, Martin Carey, Willem Brouwer, Larry Curtiss,
Bob Potter, Will Hicks, and Holger Møller Hansen. Many others helped me
understand the development of fiber-optic communications, including Charles
Kao, George Hockham, Don Keck, Murray Ramsay, Dick Dyott, John Midwinter,
Martin Chown, Roger Heckingbottom, Jack Cook, David Hanna, Charlie
Sandbank, Richard Epworth, Laszlo Solymar, Rich Cerny, Al Kasiewicz, Paul
Lazay, Ray Jaeger, Rob Cassetti, and Jack Kessler. Max Riedl, Jean-Louis Trudel,
Jonathan Beard, and Julian Carey translated articles. To The Point Graphics
in Newton, Massachusetts, helped me with drawings. Phyllis Smith, Donna
Cunningham, Joan Finamore, Mary Wright, Connie Coburn, Patricia Thiel,
Andy Goldstein, Tim Proctor, René Sigrist, and Lesley Hepden helped me track
down details, people, and pictures. Fred Abbott, Rick Martin, and Steve Salt
trusted me with rare references that have sat too long in my office. Countless
others talked with me in person or on the phone, sharing stories and answering
questions about friends, relatives, and former co-workers. I’ve tried
to keep everything straight, but if I haven’t it’s my fault, not theirs.
I’ve had a good time writing this book. I hope you enjoy reading it.
Newton, Massachusetts J. H.
December 1997