Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!rutgers!apple!flaig
From: flaig@Apple.COM (Charles Flaig)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Super LEDs from RS
Message-ID: <358@internal.Apple.COM>
Date: 22 Dec 88 22:46:38 GMT
References: <7200022@silver>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 18

In article <7200022@silver> commgrp@silver.bacs.indiana.edu writes:
>RS catalog # 276-087 "Super-Bright LED" ($1.69, from Japan) is truly 
>impressive.  It's rated 2000 mcd output at 20mA (red; wavelength 660 
>nm).

Of course, the *REAL* question is:  How do they perform when immersed
in liquid nitrogen?

Original LEDs had a significant increase in efficiency when supercooled.
Coupled with the increased power handling capability, it's possible to
get a surprising amount of light out of them (at several hundred mA).
I had fun playing with this in college.  Unfortunately, the high efficiency
LEDs (40mcd) I tried didn't have the same effect.  It would be interesting
to know if these new LEDs do.  They would be really impressive with several
hundred mA of current at significantly higher efficiency!

--Charles
  flaig@apple.com