Hiroshi Amano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hiroshi Amano
天野 浩 |
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| Born | September 11, 1960 Hamamatsu, Japan
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| Alma mater | Nagoya University |
| Known for | Blue and white LEDs |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Physics (2014) Person of Cultural Merit (2014) Order of Culture (2014) Foreign Member of National Academy of Engineering (2016) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Nagoya University |
| Doctoral advisor | Isamu Akasaki |
Hiroshi Amano (天野 浩, Amano Hiroshi, born September 11, 1960) is a Japanese physicist, engineer, and inventor. He is an expert in semiconductor technology. In 2014, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. He shared this award with Isamu Akasaki and Shuji Nakamura. They were honored for inventing efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). These LEDs made bright, energy-saving white light possible.
In 2016, Amano became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for his work on p-type gallium nitride (GaN) doping. This special process helped create blue semiconductor LEDs.
Contents
Early Life and School
Hiroshi Amano was born in Hamamatsu, Japan. His birthday is September 11, 1960. He studied at Nagoya University. He earned his first degree in 1983. He then got his master's degree in 1985. Finally, he received his doctorate in 1989.
When he was in elementary school, he loved playing sports. He was a goalkeeper in soccer. He also played softball as a catcher. He enjoyed amateur radio too. Even though he didn't like studying much, he was very good at mathematics.
When he started high school, he decided to take his studies seriously. He worked hard every day, often studying late into the night. Because of his effort, he became a top student.
His Amazing Career
From 1988 to 1992, Hiroshi Amano worked as a researcher at Nagoya University. In 1992, he moved to Meijo University. There, he became an assistant professor. He later became an associate professor in 1998. By 2002, he was a full professor.
In 2010, he returned to Nagoya University. He is currently a professor there.
He joined Professor Isamu Akasaki's research group in 1982. He was still an undergraduate student then. Since that time, he has focused on nitride semiconductors. These materials are now famous for making blue LEDs.
In 1985, he made a big breakthrough. He created special "buffer layers" at low temperatures. These layers helped grow group III nitride films on sapphire. This was a key step for making LEDs and laser diodes.
Then, in 1989, he achieved something amazing. He successfully grew p-type GaN. This allowed him to build the world's first UV/blue light-emitting diode. This was a huge step for modern lighting.
Amano is known for being very dedicated to his research. His lab was often lit up late at night. People called it the "no night castle." His students say he is always positive and calm. They say he never gets angry.
Awards and Honors
Hiroshi Amano has received many important awards for his work. Here are some of them:
- 1994 – Optoelectronics Conference A Special Award
- 1996 – IEEE/LEOS Engineering Achievement Award
- 1998 – British Rank Prize
- 2002 – Takeda Award
- 2014 – Nobel Prize in Physics
- 2014 – Person of Cultural Merit (from the Japanese Government)
- 2014 – Order of Culture (from the Japanese Emperor)
- 2015 – Chunichi Culture Award
- 2015 – Asia Game Changer Award
- 2016 – Compound Semiconductor Electronics Achievement Award
- 2018 – Gold Medal, Comenius University
Honorary Degrees
Many universities around the world have given Hiroshi Amano honorary doctorates. This means they recognize his great achievements.
- 2016 – National University of Mongolia, Mongolia
- 2016 – University of Padova, Italy
- 2016 – Blaise Pascal University, Clermont Auvergne University, France
- 2017 – University of Valle, Guatemala
- 2017 – Linköping University, Sweden
- 2019 – Novosibirsk State University, Russia
Regional Honors
He has also received special honors from different regions in Japan:
- 2015 – Honorary citizen of Shizuoka prefecture
- 2015 – Honorary citizen of Hamamatsu City
- 2015 – Aichi Prefecture Academic Honors
- 2015 – Nagoya City Academic Honors
- 2015 – Honorary citizen of Aichi prefecture
Memberships in Scientific Groups
Hiroshi Amano is a member of several important scientific groups:
- 2009 – Fellow, Japan Society of Applied Physics
- 2011 – Fellow, Institute of Physics
- 2016 – Foreign Member of the National Academy of Engineering
- 2019 – Foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
- 2022 – Member of the Japan Academy
His Family
Hiroshi Amano's wife is a Japanese lecturer. She teaches at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.
See also
In Spanish: Hiroshi Amano para niños
- List of Japanese Nobel laureates
