Jesper Hansen: In Remembrance

Professor Jesper E. Hansen of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) passed away on 14th January 2023 at the age of 93 years.  He had retired from DTU in 1997 completing a 40 years career in electromagnetics.  In the antenna measurement community, Jesper is recognized for his ground-breaking contribution to the spherical near-field antenna measurement technique, and his editorship of the seminal monograph “Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements” with co-authors Frank Jensen, Flemming Holm Larsen, and Jørgen Hald from 1988.  Today, this book remains the central reference for researchers and engineers engaged in spherical near-field antenna measurements.  Jesper was also responsible for establishing DTU’s cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) resulting in the establishment of the DTU-ESA Spherical Near-Field Antenna Test Facility; and together with Niels Christian Albertsen and Niels Eilskov Jensen, he founded the company TICRA in 1971.  In recognition of his work, Jesper received AMTA´s Distinguished Achievement Award in 1991.

Jesper E. Hansen was a gentle and most respected scientist and teacher, always loyal and supportive to his colleagues and students - and always very modest about his own accomplishments.  He was for many years an eminent Head of the Antenna Group at the Electromagnetics Institute.  Jesper was excellent not only in his professional field, he was highly interested and most knowledgeable also in arts, history, music, and ornithology – and he was a very skilled piano player.  Jesper leaves his daughter Louise, his son Ulrik, and four grandchildren.