[PLUG-TALK] Fwd: TODAY! Mark Gurevitch Memorial Lecture

[Bill Barry]

Some of you may be interested in attending this lecture. They are
usually quite interesting.
Bill

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10th Annual Lecture
June 1, 2016
5:00 PM
Hoffmann Hall

Prof. Shuji Nakamura
2014 Nobel Prize for Physics
Materials Department of the College of Engineering
University of California, Santa Barbara

The invention of high efficiency blue LEDs and future lighting

In the 1970's and 80’s, high efficiency blue and green light-emitting
diodes (LEDs) were the last missing elements required to make white
LED solid-state display and lighting technologies. At that time,
III-nitride alloys were regarded as the least probable candidates for
this technology. However, a series of unexpected breakthroughs in the
1990's changed this, and in 1993 the first high efficiency blue LEDs
were invented and commercialized. Nowadays, III-nitride-based LEDs
have become a widely used light source for many applications.

LED light bulbs are more than ten times as efficient as incandescent
bulbs, and they last for up to 50 years. At their current adoption
rates, LEDs have the potential to reduce the world’s need for
electricity by the equivalent of nearly 60 nuclear power plants by
2020.

Dr. Nakamura specializes in the field of semiconductor technology. He
is professor at the Materials Department of the College of
Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, and is the
inventor of the blue LED, a major breakthrough in lighting technology
for which he received the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics.



This event is free and open to the public. Please join us in the
Hoffmann Hall lobby after the lecture for complimentary food and
beverages!


Alex Christy
Department Coordinator
PSU Physics Department
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

achristy at pdx.edu
(503) 725-3812