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 and engineer. He is also an inventor. He is famous for his work with semiconductor technology.
Mr. Amano helped invent the blue LED. For this important invention, he won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics. He shared the award with Isamu Akasaki and Shuji Nakamura.
In 2016, Mr. Amano became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for his work on a special material called p-type gallium nitride (GaN). This material made blue semiconductor LEDs possible.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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 completed 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 was very interested in amateur radio. Even though he didn't like studying much, he was very good at mathematics.
When he started high school, he began to take his studies seriously. He worked hard every day, often studying late into the night. This helped him become a top student.
Career and Discoveries
From 1988 to 1992, Mr. 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.
Mr. Amano joined Professor Isamu Akasaki's research group in 1982. He was still an undergraduate student at the time. Since then, he has focused on studying special materials. These are called group III nitride semiconductors. Today, these materials are well known. They are used to make blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
In 1985, he made a big breakthrough. He found a way to grow these semiconductor films on a sapphire surface. This was done using a special low-temperature method. This discovery was very important. It led to the creation of light-emitting diodes and laser diodes based on these materials.
Then, in 1989, he achieved another world first. He successfully grew p-type GaN. He also built a p-n-junction-type GaN-based UV/blue light-emitting diode. This was the first time anyone had done this.
Mr. Amano is known for his dedication to research. His laboratory was often lit up late at night. This was true on weekdays, holidays, and even New Year's Day. People called his lab the "no night castle." His students say that Mr. Amano is always positive and calm. They also say he never gets angry.
Awards and Honors
Mr. Amano has received many important awards for his work.
- 1998 – Rank Prize
- 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
- 2016 – Asian Scientist 100 (recognized by Asian Scientist magazine)
Honorary Degrees
Mr. Amano has also received special honorary degrees from universities around the world. These include:
- 2016 – National University of Mongolia, Mongolia
- 2016 – University of Padova, Italy
- 2017 – Linköping University, Sweden
- 2019 – Novosibirsk State University, Russia
Regional Honors
He has also been recognized in his home country:
- 2015 – Honorary citizen of Shizuoka prefecture
- 2015 – Honorary citizen of Hamamatsu City
- 2015 – Honorary citizen of Aichi prefecture
Memberships in Scientific Groups
Mr. Amano is a member of several important scientific organizations.
- 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
Family Life
Hiroshi Amano is married. His 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
