Alf Adams facts for kids

Alfred ("Alf") Rodney Adams (born in 1939) is a British physicist. He is famous for inventing the strained-layer quantum-well laser. You probably have several of these devices in your home! They are used in many electronic gadgets.

Professor Adams worked as a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Surrey. There, he led a research group focused on light-based electronic materials and devices. He is now retired and holds the title of emeritus professor. He has received several important awards for his work. These include the Duddell Medal and Prize in 1995 and the Rank Prize in Optoelectronics in 2014. He was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1996.

Early Life and Learning

Alfred Adams grew up in a family that wasn't focused on school. His father worked as a cobbler and boxer. His mother left school at a young age.

During World War II, when bombings called The Blitz happened, Alfred was moved from his home in Hadleigh, Essex for safety. After taking a special exam, he went to a local technical school. He was also a talented athlete, playing both football and cricket for his region.

He decided to study physics at the University of Leicester. This university was a good choice because it didn't require foreign language skills, which other universities often did. He also earned his PhD there. His research was about Orthorhombic crystal systems, guided by Professor Walter Eric Spear. Later, he did more research in physics in Germany, where he met his wife, Helga.

His Amazing Career

Back in Britain, Alfred Adams worked at the University of Surrey. He researched how Gallium arsenide crystals behaved under high pressure. In 1980, he took a break to work on semiconductor lasers in Japan.

After returning to the University of Surrey, he continued his research. One day, while walking on a beach with his wife, he had a brilliant idea. He realized that by stretching or "straining" semiconductor crystals, he could change how electrons moved inside them. This change could make lasers much more efficient at producing light. This was the start of the strained-layer laser, also known as the strained quantum-well laser.

He didn't patent his idea. This means he didn't make money from this invention. However, his invention is now used in almost every home around the world!

Awards and Recognition

Alfred Adams has received many honors for his important work.

• In 1995, he was given the Duddell Medal and Prize.
• In 1996, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists. His nomination recognized his groundbreaking work. It highlighted how he used high pressure to study materials and how he showed that "straining" materials could greatly improve lasers.

Since retiring from the University of Surrey, he is an emeritus professor. This means he keeps his title even though he is retired.

In 2014, he received the Rank Prize in Optoelectronics. This award was for his pioneering work on strained-layer laser structures.

In March 2014, he was featured on a BBC Radio 4 program called "The Life Scientific" with Professor Jim Al-Khalili.