Cunningham Township in Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Quantum-Well Laser

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023

1. Quantum-Well Laser Marker

Inscription. Nick Holonyak Jr., John Bardeen's first graduate student at Illinois, invented the first practical light-emitting diode (LED) at General Electric before returning in 1963 to Illinois as a faculty member. In 1977, Holonyak and his students demonstrated the first quantum-well laser, which enabled such advances as fiber optic communications, compact disc players, and new techniques in medical diagnosis and surgery. His awards include the National Medals of Science and Technology, the Japan Prize, the Russian Global Energy Prize, and the Lemelson-MIT Prize.

Erected by University of Illinois.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the University of Illinois series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1977.

Location. 40° 6.682′ N, 88° 13.657′ W. Marker is in Urbana, Illinois, in Champaign County. It is in Cunningham Township. It can be reached from the intersection of South Wright Street and East Healey Street. Marker is between Everitt and Talbot Laboratories, near a pedestrian bridge over Boneyard

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Creek. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Urbana IL 61801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Theory of Superconductivity (a few steps from this marker); Sound on Film (within shouting distance of this marker); Computer-Based Education (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Early Computers (about 600 feet away); Multiphase Fluid Dynamics (about 700 feet away); Understanding Photosynthesis (about 700 feet away); Natural History Building (about 700 feet away); Illite and Clay Mineralogy (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Urbana.

Also see . . .
1. Nick Holonyak. Wikipedia entry on the engineer, academic and creator of the first practical

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023

2. Quantum-Well Laser Marker

LED light. (Submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Quantum-Well Laser. Short video expounding upon the marker subject. (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) (Submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Nick Holonyak, Jr. (1928-2022) image. Click for full size.

Technology.gov via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), 2002

3. Nick Holonyak, Jr. (1928-2022)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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