Nobel Prize in Physics recognizes Japanese creators LED – The Nation Costa Rica

The light shining on the screen of your smart phone or your computer, there came through the work of three researchers of Japanese origin. Isamu Akasaki Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura

These scientists created emitting diodes blue light (LED for its acronym in English) and that invention he yesterday became winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2014 awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Diodes are electronic components that allow current flow in one direction only. Before the 1990s, there were only green and red diodes.

However, it was thanks to the investigation of these Japanese who managed to create white light (by the combination of diodes red, green and blue).

Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura “succeeded where others had failed,” and managed to “the invention of efficient blue emitting diodes light, which allowed light sources Bright white and encourage energy conservation, “said committee of the Nobel Prizes in his ruling.

The of these Japanese is considered an important contribution because they achieved” a fundamental transformation in the “

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Research. The finding was conceived scientists between academia and private enterprise. Akasaki and Amano investigated at the University of Nagoya, while Nakamura -nacionalizado estadounidense- did while working at the company Nichia Chemicals.

How do the LED blue light? The light emitting diodes are made up of a number of layers of semiconductor materials. The LED converts electricity directly into light particles or photons.

So it is said that the light they emit is more efficient, as with other light sources, most part of the electrical energy is converted into heat and only a small amount in the light, said in a statement the Nobel Committee.

“I hope the bulbs LED light help reduce energy use and lower the cost of lighting in the world, “said Nakamura after learning of recognition, as quoted by the Associated Press.

Green. The prize awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences also notes that the LED technology is environmentally friendly. This, because these bulbs are more durable and produce more efficient than other light sources such as fluorescent bulbs or energy.

The Nobel Committee also noted that the investigation of the winners could allow 1,500 million people without access to electricity networks, the ability to power LED lights with sunlight as these require very little power to operate.

After the announcement, the contribution of Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura was applauded by other professionals in the world of physics. One is H. Frederick Dylla, executive director and CEO of the American Institute of Physics.

The expert told the Associated Press that “the blue LED is a fundamental invention is rapidly changing the way we light every corner of the home, the street and the workplace; a practical invention that comes from a fundamental understanding of solid state physics. “

The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded since 1901 and has delivered 107 times to 196 people.

The award ceremony will take place in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

In addition to the recognition, Winners of this award will receive $ 1.1 million (about ¢ 599 million).

Last year, this award took over scientists Peter Higgs and Francois Englert, authors of research the existence of subatomic particle or Higgs boson.