34) Semiconductor Laboratory, "the Innovative Development Foothold"
Photo A: The outside view of the first building of Semiconductor Laboratory,
constructed in 1963
Photo B: Professor Nishizawa, when he received the Jack A. Morton Award in
1983 for the achievement of
"The development of SIT and fundamental 3 elements of optical communication"
As people would call, "Two great professors, Watanabe
and Nishizawa, in Tohoku University," Yasushi Watanabe and Jun-ichi Nishizawa,
while strongly tied in master and pupil relationship, left great footprints
in the history of Japan’s semiconductor research and development. "The
Semiconductor Research Institute" founded in 1961 as an incorporated
foundation, was the symbolic research center, and after the foundation, it
continued to show presence in and outside of Japan. Photo A shows the outside
view of the Building #1 of Semiconductor Laboratory.
The target of the Laboratory was set as "to raise and develop original
research works in semiconductor electronic engineering and the wide variety
of related fields in Japan." With the centripetal role of Nishizawa,
Laboratory General Manager, the Laboratory played bridging roles between fundamental
research works in the universities and R&D works in the industry. Although
the idea of "industry- academia cooperation" is commonly accepted
nowadays, this laboratory’s foresight and execution nearly half a century
ago should be highly appreciated. This was based on the Tohoku University’s
traditional slogan of "attaching importance to practical study."
There are so many, almost uncountable number of, inventions in semiconductor
technologies and devices invented by Nishizawa, or "Mr. Semiconductor"
such as electrostatic induction transistor (SIT) and SI-thyristor, semiconductor
laser, convergence optical fiber, PIN photo diode, avalanche photo diode,
perfect crystal technology using the temperature difference method under controlled
vapor pressure, high brightness LED utilizing this technology, etc.
In recognition of these achievements, Nishizawa received many awards in and
outside Japan, including Japan Academy Prize, Imperial Invention Prize, the
Order of Culture, Jack A. Morton Award, and Edison Award.
Photo B shows Professor Nishizawa, when he received the Jack A. Morton Award
in 1983 for the achievement of "The development of SIT and fundamental
3 elements of optical communication."
(By courtesy of Nishizawa)