In 1989, Hiroshi Amano succeeded, for the first time, in producing efficient blue light-emitting diodes – the basis for the production of white LED light. For his work he was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics. 29 Nobel Laureates and some 400 young scientists from 80 countries are attending the meeting at Lake Constance, which will run until Friday. The main topics of the lectures and panel discussions are quantum technology, particle physics and cosmology.
Hiroshi Amano shared the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics with Isamu Akasaki and Shuji Nakamura for “for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes, which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources”, according to the official announcement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Despite years of research, it had not previously been possible to produce white light with LEDs; it had only been possible to manufacture red and green diodes.
In his presentation, Hiroshi Amano vividly described the difficult path to the successful development of the necessary material systems and encouraged the young scientists present to pursue their own research goals with inquisitiveness, perseverance and creativity. He himself ran more than a thousand experiments before his efforts were crowned with success. Although LEDs had long been employed mainly as minuscule lamps for signal displays, their use in flat screens and smart phone displays and as energy-saving lighting has now become an indispensable part of modern technology. Even as a student, Hiroshi Amano, who is now 55, had envisioned developing a light source of the future.
Undergraduates, PhD students and postdocs under 35 form the young contingent of the meeting, all of whom had passed a multi-stage application and selection process. Many see the meeting as a unique opportunity to discuss current developments and future challenges in the field of physics with Nobel Laureates and to present their own research work in a master class or poster session.
The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have been held every year in on Lake Constance since 1951. The meetings focus alternately on physiology and medicine, physics or chemistry – the three natural science Nobel Prize disciplines. An interdisciplinary meeting encompassing all three natural sciences is held every five years. In addition, the Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences is held every three years.
