The "blue laser" is an exciting new device used in physics. The potential is now being recognized for its development into a commercial lighting system using about a tenth of the power and with a thousand times the operating lifetime of a comparable conventional system. This comprehensive work introduces the subject at a level suitable for graduate

The "blue laser" is an exciting new device used in physics. The potential is now being recognized for its development into a commercial lighting system using about a tenth of the power and with a thousand times the operating lifetime of a comparable conventional system. This comprehensive work introduces the subject at a level suitable for graduate students. It covers the basics physics of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs) based on gallium nitride and related nitride semiconductors, and gives an outline of their structural, transport and optical properties, and the relevant device physics. It begins with the fundamentals, and covers both theory and experiment, as well as an examination of actual and potential device applications. Shuji Nakamura and Nichia Chemicals Industries made the initial breakthroughs in the field, and these have revealed that LEDs and LDs are a sophisticated physical phenomenon and a commercial reality.

From the reviews of the first edition: "The technical chapters will be lapped up by semiconductor specialists keen to know more [...] the book includes fascinating material that answers the question: why did Nakamura succeed where many, much larger, research groups failed." New Scientist

In 1993, the author, Shuji Nakamura developed the first commercially available blue and green light-emitting diodes. Now he has made the most important breakthrough in solid state laser techniques to date - the first blue semiconductor laser based on GaN. Here, Dr. Nakamura discusses the physical concept and basic manufacturing technology of these new blue light-emitting and laser diodes. he shows how this represents a new era in commercial applications for semiconductors, including displays, road and railway signalling, lighting, scanners, optical data storage, and much more. Moreover, Nakamura provides fascinating background information on the extraordinary realisation of an extremely successful concept of research and development. Of interest to researchers as well as engineers.

This timely monograph addresses an important class of semiconductors and devices that constitute the underlying technology for blue lasers. It succinctly treats structural, electrical and optical properties of nitrides and the substrates on which they are deposited, band structures of nitrides, optical processes, deposition and fabrication technologies, light-emitting diodes, and lasers. It also includes many tables and figures detailing the properties and performance of nitride semiconductors and devices.

The three volumes of this handbook treat the fundamentals, technology and nanotechnology of nitride semiconductors with an extraordinary clarity and depth. They present all the necessary basics of semiconductor and device physics and engineering together with an extensive reference section. Volume 3 deals with nitride semiconductor devices and device technology. Among the application areas that feature prominently here are LEDs, lasers, FETs and HBTs, detectors and unique issues surrounding solar blind detection.