This year’s Nobel Prize in physics went to three creators of the blue LED – Isamu Akasaki and the Japanese Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura of the United States, thanks to the energy-efficient and durable LEDs replace incandescent and fluorescent lamps.
The winners were announced Tuesday in Stockholm. According to the decision of the Nobel Committee, scientists will share equally the amount of SEK 8 million (approx. 3.6 million zł.)
The Committee appreciated – as the explanatory memorandum – the invention of the scientists’ efficient blue light-emitting diodes, which allowed for the creation of clear and efficient sources of white light. ” “Their inventions were revolutionary. Bulbs illuminated the twentieth century, the XXI century illuminate the LED” – wrote the members of the Nobel Committee. In their view, this can improve the quality of life of 1.5 billion people worldwide without access to electricity. Thanks to low-energy blue LEDs can be powered because cheap sources of energy, for example. Solar panels.
The light-emitting diode LED very efficiently convert electricity to light. They are much more durable than incandescent or fluorescent lamps. Unlike fluorescent lamps, can be quickly and frequently switched on and off, without harm to the sustainability – and do not contain poisonous mercury.
The theoretical basis of the LED built in the early twentieth century, but in the practical application had to wait yet decades. At the end of the 50s there were red LEDs, later developed as green. Found use as a display element in watches and measuring devices and indicating lights connect to the network. But for 30 years failed to create a blue LED, which is necessary to build a LED lamp emitting white light – the combination of colors: red, green and blue.
Isamu Akasaki (85 years) worked with Hiroshi Amano (54 years) at the University of Nagoya, but born in Japan Shuji Nakamura (60) was employed in a small company Nichia Chemicals in Tokushima on the island Shihoku. All three scientists themselves built the necessary equipment and risked countless failed experiments.
The first success Akasakiego and Amano was to obtain high-quality crystals of gallium nitride on sapphire substrate. A few years later have produced in the material p-type semiconductor layer, and in 1992. Built the first blue LED. Nakamura worked independently of Akasakiego and Amano, yielding similar results. He also explained the theoretical basis of the process.
Thanks to Japanese scientists created the blue lasers, allowing the recording density – Blu-ray DVD replaced and laser printers produce better prints. Blue LED also began a fundamental change in lighting.
The LED is made of several layers of semiconductor. Electrical energy is converted directly into a stream of particles of light – photons, while the discharge lamps – fluorescent light, especially using incandescent tungsten filament lamps – most of the energy is converted to heat.
85, Isamu Akasaki is one of the oldest subjects who received the Nobel Prize in physics. The long wait for the moment in which the research will be appreciated. Do not lose hope, though its surroundings suggested that the twentieth century. Did not bring him recognition and fame. – I never thought of it that way. You just did your – said he Akasaki at a conference organized on the day judgment Nobel Prizes.
His younger colleague and a co Nobel, 54-year-old Hiroshi Amano hopes that his findings continue to improve the quality of life of people. He currently works as a professor at the University of Nagoya.
The third Nobel Prize winners, prof. Shuji Nakamura was born in 1954. In Japan, but is now a citizen of the USA, where he works at the University of California. “I hope that efficient LED lamps will help reduce energy consumption and reduce lighting costs over the world” – Nakamura said the news of the award him the Nobel Prize.
Polish scientists commenting on PAP this year’s Nobel Prize in physics, emphasized that the Nobel Prize winners discovery was very important also for our learning. resulted – Dr. Jacek Szczytko rating from the Department of Physics, University of Warsaw – the study of gallium nitride, also conducted by Polish researchers, suddenly found themselves at the center of world science. Besides – echoed Professor. Sylwester Porowski of the Institute of High Pressure Physics in Warsaw – the Nobel Prize in physics has shown the importance of research on gallium nitride, which are a specialty of the Poles.
Prof. Roman Stępniewski from the Faculty of Physics, Warsaw University said that such research has several Polish centers science, for example. at UW, but the Poles lack of adequate base to achieve such spectacular success, as Nobel Prize winners.
The fact that the Nobel Prize for artists blue LEDs also appreciate the research gallium nitride is convinced the president Ammono, Polish company producing gallium nitride, Dr. Robert Dwiliński. He admitted that the environment for years waiting awards for Nakamura, Akasakiego and Amano.
– It seems to me that this is one of the most important awards in recent years. It is for us the great satisfaction, because these people work. For our crystals are doing a lot of research – commented in an interview with PAP Polish director’s Ammono Dr. Robert Dwiliński of the Center for New Technology of the University of Warsaw.
In his opinion, the Committee Nobel appreciated civilizational breakthrough that has been made with the discovery of the light generated by the gallium nitride. “It’s about the ability to transform electricity to light by semiconductors – Dwiliński said and added that this technology is already used among others for lighting purposes. With time, however – as noted – gallium nitride probably find new uses. His opinion, this material can in the future, increase the range of electric and hybrid cars or improve communication in smart grids.
– This is the reward worth the sound, especially because Poland when it comes to material and scientific scale of this problem is strictly among leaders. still in Poland we have the potential to position a global player, and maybe even a leader in technologies based on gallium nitride. Though LED technology is unlikely to catch up with Japan and China already, so much in electronics high power and high frequency is still potential for development – adds Dwiliński and points out that in our country has always produced the best gallium nitride crystals.
Dwiliński also recalled that gallium nitride research in Poland started before this technology began the work of Japanese Nobel Prize winners. PAP’s added, however, that the Japanese quickly exploited the potential of gallium nitride, making use of it in the LEDs, as well as Blue-ray lasers.
Source: www.naukawpolsce.pap.pl
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