Light emitting devices in the U.K.

Summary form only given, as follows. This invited review deals solely with solidstate light emitters, and excludes work on plasma panels and subtractive displays. GaP LEDs were pioneered in the UK in the early 1960´s and still receive much attention. Conventional red and green devices are in production. Research is concentrating on new fabrication techniques. GaAsP diodes are also in production. Research proceeds also on these additional materials: GainP, GaN, ZnSe, ZnS, and rare-earth phosphors (used as photon energy up-converters on GaAs IR diodes). ZnSe diodes are MIS structures. Since LEDs are too expensive for large displays, the UK program has concentrated on ZnS dc electroluminiscent powder panels. These various areas of work will be set in perspective in the talk given at the conference.