Prof. Gwo Shangjr speaks on current situation of frontier photon sources at “Southern China Science Forum”

Guest Lecture

| 10/27/2016

On the afternoon of October 14, 2016, Session 3 of the “Southern China Science Forum” hosted by Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and University of Macau kicked off at No. 111 Lecture Hall of SUSTech. Prof. Gwo Shangjr, a chair professor from the Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan, a professor recruited by the Institute of NanoEngineering and MicroSystems, NTHU and a member of the American Physical Society, made a presentation themed “Light up Here-Current Situation of Frontier Photon Sources”.

Tang Tao, Vice President of SUSTech, presided over the lecture.

Gwo researches on the basic physical properties and component applications of low-dimension nano materials (including semiconductors, self-assembled molecular films and precious metal nano particles), nanoplasmonics, III-nitride semiconductor: plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy, and the basic materiality of semiconductor surface and interface under synchrotron radiation sources. In 2012, his international research team successfully developed the smallest semiconductor nano laser, and proved that the new laser (plasmon nano laser) can be used to create semiconductor nano laser beyond the limits of three-dimensional diffraction. The research findings were published on world top periodical Science.

Civilization emerged when humans knew how to make fire about 300,000 years ago. For a long time, fire has been not only a tool for cooking and social networking, but also a reliable source of light and warmth. It is no exaggeration to say that using fire as a lighting tool or heat source is the first significant difference between humans and other animals on the earth. Over the past 120 years, new photon source development has sped up. Since Wilhelm Röntge invented the X-ray tube in 1895, new photon sources, including synchrotron radiation source (1947), maser (1954), laser (1960), visible light LED (1962) and semiconductor laser diode (1962), have thoroughly changed our life.

Gwo started with the discovery of light sources and the application of light sources in daily life. From fire to modern light sources, he explained the importance of light to humans, the society and the world. He also expounded the history of light sources: X-ray invented 120 years ago has a great impact on the human society.

At the forum, Gwo introduced the development of the latest researches on photon sources with different sizes (ultra-small and ultra-large), different spectral regions (X-ray, ultraviolet ray, visible light, infrared ray, terahertz), different pulse widths (ultra-fast) and different power intensities (ultra-low or ultra-strong). He also introduced the potential application prospect of these frontier photon sources.

In the Q&A session, Gwo patiently and carefully answered the students’ questions.

2016, 10-27