The 6th JSAP Research Achievement Award
Kenichi Iga

Ryuichi Shimizu
Pioneering Research in Surface
Emitting Semiconductor Lasers

Contributions to Pioneering
Fundamental Research in Micro-beam
Analysis, and in Surface Analysis
Technologies

In 1977, Prof. Kenichi Iga became the firstresearcher in the world to propose the concept of
surface emitting lasers, and in 1979 he achievedlaser oscillation for the first time using current

Since the late 1950s, Ryuichi Shimizu has
been involved in pioneering research on theinjection. He also proposed extremely short resonator constructions with

fundamentals and applications of microbeam analysis using elec-a cavity length of 10µm or less, and developed a micro-cavity laser that
operates with an extremely low current compared to conventional semi-tron and ion beams. One of his most important and world-renowned
achievements was a proposal for the world’s first method of simulating

conductor lasers. Later, his research team created a device that enable

scattering processes of charged particle in solid using Monte Carlo anal-

continuous operation at room temperatures, opening the doors forpractical applications, and in 1995 he succeeded in the miniaturization

ysis. Because this method could be applied even when it was difficult toderive solutions with conventional analytical methods, it could be usedof components, achieving a threshold current of 70 microamperes, thein a wide range of microbeam analysis applications, including scan-world’s lowest threshold value for a semiconductor laser at that time.

ning electronic microscopy (SEM) image analysis; quantitative analysis

Based on this pioneering research, the new academic field of surface
emission laser devices has been formed on a global scale, and many
research institutions have undertaken extensive research and development activities, many of which are aimed at practical applications. Prof.

with electron probe micro analyzers (EPMA), which are widely used as a
micro analysis method; and analysis of sputtering processes in secondary
ion micron spectroscopy (SIMS), which is well known as a highly sensitive micro analysis method. This analysis method is widely used in

Iga is recognized throughout the world as the inventor of these devices.
Particularly in the U.S., several projects are currently underway with regard

the evaluation of industrial materials and devices, and has played an
extremely critical role in the proliferation of those materials and devices.

to optical interconnect and massively parallel optical transmissions using
surface emitting lasers, and these lasers are also introduced on the U.S.

Over the course of many years, Prof. Shimizu has built up the foundations of this microbeam analysis.

government homepage for nanotechnology initiatives as a revolutionary
aspect of information technologies originating in Japan.
Prof. Iga’s achievements in the field of optical electronics — particularly his extensive research ranging from the discovery of surface emit-

In electron optic systems, it is difficult to eliminate spherical aberrations because in principle, these systems contain no concave lenses.
Attempts to eliminate aberrations had been made since the 1930s, whenthe electron microscope was invented, but none of these attempts wereting lasers to laying the foundations for new technologies and developing
new devices — have created an entirely new field of research, and havemade significant contributions to industrial development as well. In thissuccessful. Prof. Shimizu applied the “active image processing method”
that was proposed by his former student as a new method for eliminating
spherical aberrations, and became the first in the world to successfully

way, Prof. Iga has demonstrated Japan’s unique creativity to the world. His
achievements in the field of surface emitting lasers have had a dramatic

obtain a clear image of a surface atom without artifacts for the first timein the world. As the leader of a Project for JSPS-Research for the Future

effect on the academic world as well, giving rise to new research fields
in optical and quantum electronics, including photonic crystals and natu-(RFTF) Program “Development of Super Electron Microscope in nextgeneration” he successfully developed a super-resolution phase contrast

rally controlled release using extremely short resonators. His central workin surface emitting lasers and in massively parallel optical electronics inte-electron microscope.
In addition to these achievements, Prof. Shimizu made significant

grated with planar microlens arrays, have received outstanding recognition from the academic world as well; for example, the research teamworking on this project was selected as a “Center of Excellence” in thefirst year that the COE program was implemented by the Ministry ofEducation, Culture, Sports, Technology and Science (MEXT).
In recent years, surface emitting lasers as a light source for shortdistance data communications (for example, in Gigabit Ethernets) havegrown into a market estimated at several tens of billions of yen, and areessential devices in the context of short-distance, high-speed communication networks. Ultra high-speed optical interconnect technologies that takeadvantage of the low power consumption and high-density integration
characteristics of surface emission lasers are considered revolutionary technologies that will eliminate the wiring bottlenecks in large-scale electronic
devices and integrated systems. These technologies are expected to havefind uses in a wide range of applications, including home optical networks
and sensors, and have had a major impact on society as well, for example
by promoting the creation of countless venture companies throughout theworld working in the field of surface emitting lasers. These achievements
are truly worthy of the JSAP Research Achievement Award.

contributions to the development of high-brightness electron sources
such as LaB6 and Zr-O/ W by elucidating the electron emission mechanisms of these substances. Regarding the practical applications of singlecrystal LaB6 cathodes in particular, he developed products by obtaining
numerous patents through joint research with companies, thereby making
significant contributions to the development of electron beam devices.
In this way, as a leading figure in the field of microbeam analysis, he has
demonstrated outstanding achievements that have had a positive effectnot only in the context of academia, but in the industrial world as well.
Prof. Shimizu’s achievements are not limited to those outlined
above. It is also worth noting that he has made numerous international
contributions, and has assisted in the development of this field in Japan.
In fields directly related to industry, he has represented Japan on the ISOtechnical committee (TC) 201 on Surface Chemical Analysis, and has
been active as chairman of the ISO - TC201, thereby contributing to theimprovement of surface analysis technologies in Japan. These achievements are truly worthy of the JSAP Research Achievement Award.

JSAP International No.14 (July 2006)29