Light Emitting Transistor

The Light Emitting Transistor (LET) was developed by Professors Nick Holonyak Jr. and Milton Feng in 2004. Feng and Holonyak were having coffee shortly after Feng had received attention for creating the fastest transistor in 2003. It was then that Holonyak suggested that the transistor may be giving off light. Feng and Holonyak spent two months conducting tests and were able to find light. They then spent a year improving the transistor, including having the transistor work at room temperature instead of colder temperatures.

The LET is fabricated from indium gallium phosphide, indium gallium arsenide, and gallium arsenide. It is the unique properties of these materials that produce the infrared photons. Added benefits of the LET are that it is faster than the LED at producing light. Another benefit is light intensity can be controlled by adjusting the electrical current. Also, the third transistor port allows for superior control of the electrical and optical outputs. Future applications for the LET involve replacing the wires in electronics with fiber optics producing higher performance devices.

– Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory. This is where Holonyak and Feng’s offices are located and where the idea for Light Emitting Transistor was developed.

 

Center for Advanced Study. (n.d.). Past Associate: Theory and Technology Realization of Transistor Laser. Retrieved from: http://cas.illinois.edu/person/milton-feng/ (Image).

Damery, J. (2013, August 5). Holonyak Retires After 50 Year in ECE. ECE Illinois Newsroom. Retrieved from https://ece.illinois.edu/newsroom/article/2575

Kloeppel, James E. (2004, January 5). New light-emitting transistor could revolutionize electronics industry. News Bureau Illinois. Retrieved from http://news.illinois.edu/news/04/0105LET.html

Office of Technology Management (n.d.). Light Emitting Transistor and Laser. Retrieved from http://otm.illinois.edu/technologies/light-emitting-transistor-and-las (Updated link here)