| Hiroshi Amano |
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Question & Answer
Questioner 1:
Sincerest congratulations on winning the award. I really hope that you realize the first innovation of the 21st century. I also think, without doubt, that aluminum addition for the shorter wavelength ultra-violet will be possible.
I would like to ask, as the next challenge, one more thing about the electronic devices. Gallium nitride has, by nature, so high a breakdown voltage that everyone thinks it suitable for power transistors. But, the industrial world tends to go on established practices and has concentrated resources on SiC groups. So, the GaN industry cannot develop, and, concerning higher frequency applications, the industry cannot arise at all since that market itself does not yet exist.
If nothing is done, I think, we will be beaten by the US, because the US is very strongly pushing it. I would appreciate if you could tell us, from the viewpoint of a researcher in the frontline, about these issues, and about what kind of government support is needed. I look to you for your comment.
Amano:
I am not really in a position to comment on things at that level. But, first, concerning this blue light from nitride crystals, personally, rather than looking to the government for support, I prefer to get down to work in my field - this I think gives me energy and brings new achievements one after the other.
Of course, I don't deny the need for government funds at all. Concerning a higher frequency devicec for example, I use my PC at home and, although the wireless transmission has been improved very much, when I want to send a movie file I can send it only frame by frame, even with the recent advent of 12 Mbps ADSL. The speed must be raised up to at least 10 times or 100 times faster. For that, we must increase the frequency and must make many, many cellular stations. I think such a trend will definitely happen. At that time, we will have to select suitable materials and I see gallium nitride as the first candidate for that purpose.
Questioner 2:
Hearing your talk, I think it is clear that you were given a very challenging theme at a very young age, and that you struggled with it for a long time to get fruitful results in the end. I would like to ask you about research themes for young and aggressive researchers - the kind that are very challenging and promise fruitful results 10, 20 or 30 years later. I would be very happy if you could talk about some examples.
Amano:
It is exactly what I want to know. I cannot think of an answer immediately. But, I have got a bit older and my laboratory has begun to take in research students. So, I want to make them experience the same emotions that I did. The most important point is the research theme. Maybe, let me see, there are many probable themes if you give it some thought, but to find such a kind of theme, it is important to consider whether many people think it valuable and whether it is very hard to realize. Sorry not to give you any specific examples.
Questioner 3:
Congratulations! I think it is rather difficult to give guidance to students. In the case of the master class students, they make unexpected mistakes and break apparatus when I give them a free hand. On the other hand, they hate me when I instruct them in too much detail. About these situations, I would like to know what Professor Akasaki was like, as far as you can talk about it. (Amano: is this a question to Professor Akasaki ?) No, I would like to hear what was beneficial guidance, and so on, from the viewpoint of the student.
Amano:
OK. I understand. Well, I'll talk about my feelings when I was the student. Perhaps, I was the worst student in the Akasaki laboratory. So, I am helped by Akasaki laboratory still now. First of all, we had a clear framework. Professor Akasaki didn't say anything in detail, but he evaluated our works appropriately. For example, the student members reported their results, and these were thought over from various viewpoints, at the research presentation meeting, which was my chance to report my work results. At that meeting, he made appropriate decisions according to the situation. Well, these two things were very helpful guidance for me: the support for autonomy, firstly, and also the appropriate judgment.
Tarui(Chairman):
Then, please Professor Akasaki, too.
Akasaki:
I have not prepared for this situation and I am not sure how to answer to this question. It may not be a direct answer, but I'll try and say something about that time. Dr. Amano said himself that he came to my laboratory in 1982. But, in fact, he graduated in 1983. That is, he came into my room as at the same time as he moved up to the fourth grade, the official application process for joining the labs had not started, I think, but he said he was eager to be assigned to this theme. The number of research students I could accept into my laboratory was limited. My laboratory has since developed into one of the largest ones, in terms of student numbers, in Nagoya University. At that time, I'm not sure about the number. Anyway, the most impressive memory about him is that he was the first student who had called on me at my laboratory before the official application period. Maybe, he thought that drawing lots would decide the application and he wanted to reserve one seat for himself by avoiding the lottery process. He was being very proactive in doing that. I always use the phrase "immersing oneself" when talking about his enthusiasm. It is the key factor to stimulate a research laboratory - that there are some students like him, I think.
I have heard an opinion from someone, from some American I was talking with. His thinking was that when you are dealing with a group project, rather than directing everything in detail it's better to set a clear direction and then take a position in the background. I am not sure if this is a good answer to this question.
Tarui(Chairman):
I'm afraid to add anything unnecessary, but as far as I have studied this topic, Professor Akasaki's persistence is impressive. And his guidance was very firm, I think. As was talked about in the previous talk, we recognized that Professor Amano worked out the important problems such as buffer layer and the p-type conversion by electron beam radiation. So, we concluded that this award should include them both. But Professor Akasaki's persistence and guidance were very important. It resulted in the fact that Dr. Amano didn't make any unexpected mistakes, but did do remarkable work. Are there any other questions? If not then as time is almost up now, I'll proceed to the next speaker. Thank you very much Professor Amano.
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