Infrared and visible light LEDs and photodetectors have found numerous
applications and have become a truly enabling technology. The promise of
solid state lighting has invigorated interest in white light LEDs.
Ultraviolet LEDs and solar blind photodetectors represent the next
frontier in solid state emitters and hold promise for many important
applications in biology, medi- cine, dentistry, solid state lighting,
displays, dense data storage, and semi- conductor manufacturing. One of
the most important applications is in sys- tems for the identification
of hazardous biological agents. Compared to UV lamps, UV LEDs have lower
power consumption, a longer life, compactness, and sharper spectral
lines. UV LEDs can provide a variety of UV spectra and have shape and
form factor flexibility and rugged- ness. Using conventional phosphors,
UV LEDs can generate white light with high CRI and high efficiency. If
quantum cutter phosphors are developed, white light generation by UV
LEDs might become even more efficient. Advances in semiconductor
materials and in improved light extraction techniques led to the
development of a new generation of efficient and pow- erful visible
high-brightness LEDs and we expect that similar improvements will be
achieved in solid-state UV technology.