III-V Nitrides For Optical Emitters

Abstract

The ever increasing need for higher density optical storage and full color display technologies is driving researchers to develop wide bandgap semiconductor emitter technologies which are active in the green, blue and ultraviolet wavelengths. This is due to the fact that the diffraction limited optical storage density increases quadratically as the probe laser wavelength is reduced. Wide bandgap emitters are also bringing semiconductor technology to full color displays.' For the first time, all three primary colors can be generated using semiconductor technology. Already InGaN/AlGaN DH LEDs, produced by Nichia Chemical Industries, Ltd., are capable of producing about 2 cd of luminosity at blue and blue-green wavelengths of the visible spectrum.