Traditional incandescent (and even fluorescent) lamps waste a lot of energy. Imagine a lamp that emits only the light useful for illumination, without other wasted light (such as ultraviolet light, which you cannot see) and with minimal heat. Such a lamp would be brighter and more efficient. In a miniature version, it would be ideally suited for backlighting flight instruments in aircraft cockpits.

The NoveLELS consortium of aircraft manufacturers, lighting specialists and university researchers is pioneering energy-efficient, light emitting diode (LED) systems for aircraft applications. This type of solid-state lamp emits light, but very little heat, when an electrical current passes through it.

But there are challenges. Most of the LEDs currently found in solid-state lighting are so highly refractive (bend light) that much of the light gets trapped within the device. There is also a phenomenon known as LED droop, which is the tendency for LEDs to work less effi ciently at higher currents.

The NoveLELS consortium is introducing gallium nitride LEDs that trap less light. Research into gallium nitride chips is also showing fewer problems with LED droop.

With a year to run in this R&D project, the consortium is demonstrating this technology in cockpit displays and external lighting for aircraft. They will transfer the technology for manufacture in the UK, consolidate the intellectual property and package the new solid-state lighting devices for various applications including TV and computer monitor screens.

These novel LEDs will offer more efficient, high power lights for use in many situations where efficiency and reliability are paramount.