Phosphors include a CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase, wherein the CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

An object of the present invention is to provide a scintillator having a high radiation stopping power, and having a shorter fluorescence decay time compared to conventional scintillators. The above object is achieved by setting the composition of a scintillator to a composition represented by General Formula (1).

Q.sub.xM.sub.yO.sub.3z  (1)

(wherein in General Formula (1), Q includes at least two or more divalent metallic elements; M includes at least Hf; and x, y, and z independently satisfy 0.5≤x≤1.5, 0.5≤y≤1.5, and 0.7≤z≤1.5, respectively).

Provided is a wavelength conversion member that is less decreased in luminescence intensity with time by irradiation with light of an LED or LD and a light emitting device using the wavelength conversion member. A wavelength conversion member is formed of an inorganic phosphor dispersed in a glass matrix, wherein the glass matrix contains, in % by mole, 30 to 85% SiO.sub.2, 0 to 20% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 25% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Na.sub.2O, 0 to 3% K.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, 0 to 35% MgO, 0 to 35% CaO, 0 to 35% SrO, 0 to 35% BaO, 0.1 to 45% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and 0 to 4% ZnO, and the inorganic phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide phosphor, a nitride phosphor, an oxynitride phosphor, a chloride phosphor, an oxychloride phosphor, a halide phosphor, an aluminate phosphor, and a halophosphate phosphor.

The present invention aims to provide a scintillator which has a short fluorescence decay time, whose fluorescence intensity after a period of time following radiation irradiation is low, and which shows largely improved light-transmittance. A scintillator represented by the following General Formula (1), the scintillator including Zr, having a Zr content of not less than 1500 ppm by mass therein, and being a block of a sintered body. Q.sub.xM.sub.yO.sub.3z:A . . . (1) (wherein in General Formula (1), Q includes at least one or more kinds of divalent metallic elements; M includes at least Hf; and x, y, and z independently satisfy 0.5≤x≤1.5, 0.5≤y≤1.5, and 0.7≤z≤1.5, respectively).

Provided is a wavelength conversion member that is less decreased in luminescence intensity with time by irradiation with light of an LED or LD and a light emitting device using the wavelength conversion member. A wavelength conversion member is formed of an inorganic phosphor dispersed in a glass matrix, wherein the glass matrix contains, in % by mole, 30 to 85% SiO.sub.2, 0 to 20% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 25% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Na.sub.2O, 0 to 3% K.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, 0 to 35% MgO, 0 to 35% CaO, 0 to 35% SrO, 0 to 35% BaO, 0.1 to 45% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and 0 to 4% ZnO, and the inorganic phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide phosphor, a nitride phosphor, an oxynitride phosphor, a chloride phosphor, an oxychloride phosphor, a halide phosphor, an aluminate phosphor, and a halophosphate phosphor.

Phosphors include a CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase, wherein the CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

Phosphors include a CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase, wherein the CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

The application relates to fluorescent powder which has a garnet structure and can be effectively excited by ultraviolet light or blue light, a method for preparing the fluorescent powder, and a light emitting device, an image display device and an illumination device comprising the fluorescent powder. A chemical formula of the fluorescent powder is expressed as: (M.sup.1a-xM.sup.2x)ZrbM.sup.3cOd, where M.sup.1 is one or two elements selected from Sr, Ca, La, Y, Lu and Gd, Ca or Sr being necessary; M.sup.2 is one or two elements selected from Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb and Dy, Ce being necessary; M.sup.3 is at least one element selected from Ga, Si, and Ge, Ga being necessary; and 2.8≦a≦3.2, 1.9≦b≦2.1, 2.8≦c≦3.2, 11.8≦d≦12.2, and 0.002≦x≦0.6.

The invention provides a lighting device (100) comprising: a first solid state light source (10), configured to provide UV radiation (11) having a wavelength selected from the range of 380-420 nm; a second solid state light source (20), configured to provide blue light (21) having a wavelength selected from the range of 440-470 nm; a wavelength converter element (200), wherein the wavelength converter element (200) comprises: a first luminescent material (210), configured to provide upon excitation with the blue light (21) of the second solid state light source (20) first luminescent material light (211) having a wavelength selected from the green and yellow wavelength range, and wherein the first luminescent material excitability for UV radiation (11) is lower than for blue light (21); and a second luminescent material (220), configured to provide upon excitation with the blue light (21) of the second solid state light source (20) second luminescent material light (221) having a wavelength selected from the orange and red wavelength range, and wherein the second luminescent material excitability for UV radiation (11) is lowerthan for blue light (21).

The present invention relates to a sulfide phosphor including a parent body containing one or more selected from Ba, Li, and S, and Al and Ga as constituent elements, wherein one or more activators selected from Eu and Ce are employed to the parent body.