Localized waves: Historical and personal perspectives

Summary: In this chapter, the author begins by talking about Dr Jim Brittingham who introduced the concept of focused wave modes (FWMs). Brittingham's work led to a flurry of activity into examining the FWM and related solutions, to understanding their properties, and to extensions of both. Jim continued to play with his solutions after his retirement from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The J. N. Brittingham Honor Session was held at the AP-S/URSI Symposium in Blacksburg, VA, in June 1987. The author's presentation at the symposium included the MPS pulse and discussed its properties, including the fact that its energy is finite. A definitive proof of the existence of finite energy localized waves (LWs) was later reported. The author concludes by stating that Jim's seminal paper and the solutions contained therein spawned a wonderful legacy.