Peeter Saari


Peeter Saari is an Estonian physicist whose work spans optical spectroscopy of solids, ultrafast optics and wave optics. He is a professor of wave optics at the University of Tartu and has been a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences since 1986.

Early life and education

Saari was born in Tallinn on 2 June 1945. He graduated from Tallinn Secondary School No. 21 in 1963 and completed a degree in theoretical physics at the University of Tartu in 1968.

Career

Saari's academic career has been closely associated with the Institute of Physics in Tartu, which was formerly part of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and later became part of the University of Tartu. He led the Laboratory of Crystal Spectroscopy from 1976, and served as director of the institute in 1981–1988.
He defended his Candidate of Sciences dissertation in physics and mathematics in 1972, and his doctoral dissertation in 1980; he was awarded the Doctor of Sciences degree in 1981. He received the title of professor in 1994 and has been professor of wave optics at the University of Tartu since 1997.

Research

Saari's research has included hot luminescence and vibronic relaxation in solids, temporal–spectral diagnostics and synthesis of ultrashort optical pulses, time–space holography, and propagation-invariant and other structured light fields in wave optics. In 2000 he received the Estonian National Science Award in exact sciences for a cycle of work on non-diffracting light waves.

Scientific service

Saari has held scientific leadership roles in Estonia, including service on the governing bodies of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and leadership roles connected with national research funding and science policy.

Honours and awards

Among Saari's awards are:
  • Estonian National Science Award, 2000
  • Order of the White Star, III class, 2002
  • Honorary Citizen of Tartu, 2014
  • Estonian National Science Award, 2019
  • Optica Fellow, 2017

    Selected publications

  • Peeter Saari; Henn Sõnajalg. “Suppression of temporal spread of ultrashort pulses in dispersive media by Bessel beam generators.” Optics Letters 21.
  • Peeter Saari; Kristjan Reivelt. “Evidence of X-shaped propagation invariant localized light waves.” Physical Review Letters 79.
  • Peeter Saari. “Laterally accelerating Airy pulses.” Optics Express 16.