An optical converter for producing colored or white light from blue excitation light is provided. The converter has good scattering properties to be able to produce nearly white light from the scattered blue light components and the scattered, converted yellow light components. The optical converter includes material including one or more of a YAG ceramic, a LuAG ceramic, and a magnesium-aluminum ceramic exhibiting strong scattering.

A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element for emitting primary light, and a wavelength conversion unit for absorbing part of the primary light and emitting secondary light having a wavelength longer than that of the primary light, wherein the wavelength conversion unit includes plural kinds of phosphors having light absorption characteristics different from each other, and then at least one kind of phosphor among the plural kinds of phosphors has an absorption characteristic that can absorb the secondary light emitted from at least another kind of phosphor among the plural kinds of phosphors.

A material represented by the following formula (I)
(M).sub.8M.sub.6M.sub.6O.sub.24(X,S).sub.2:Mformula (I).
Also disclosed is an ultraviolet radiation sensing material, an X-radiation sensing material, a device and a method for determining the intensity of ultraviolet radiation.

A material represented by the following formula (I)

(M).sub.8M.sub.6M.sub.6O.sub.24(X,S).sub.2:Mformula (I).

Also disclosed is an ultraviolet radiation sensing material, an X-radiation sensing material, a device and a method for determining the intensity of ultraviolet radiation.

A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element for emitting primary light, and a wavelength conversion unit for absorbing part of the primary light and emitting secondary light having a wavelength longer than that of the primary light, wherein the wavelength conversion unit includes plural kinds of phosphors having light absorption characteristics different from each other, and then at least one kind of phosphor among the plural kinds of phosphors has an absorption characteristic that can absorb the secondary light emitted from at least another kind of phosphor among the plural kinds of phosphors.

A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element for emitting primary light, and a wavelength conversion unit for absorbing part of the primary light and emitting secondary light having a wavelength longer than that of the primary light, wherein the wavelength conversion unit includes plural kinds of phosphors having light absorption characteristics different from each other, and then at least one kind of phosphor among the plural kinds of phosphors has an absorption characteristic that can absorb the secondary light emitted from at least another kind of phosphor among the plural kinds of phosphors.

Disclosed are smoothing phosphors for AC LED lighting that are capable of prolonging the light emission time of an AC LED (or array of AC LEDs) during a cycle response to a phase change of the alternating current to substantially reduce flicker. The smoothing phosphor of the present teachings comprises a matrix represented by the formula: M.sub.(l-k-r-v)X.sub.(m-p)Al.sub.2(n-0.5x-0.5y)O.sub.3(n-0.5x-0.5y): Mn.sub.(x+p)O.sub.(x+p), Si.sub.yO.sub.2y, Eu.sub.k, R.sub.r, Li.sub.v wherein M is at least one of La.sub.2O.sub.3, Ce.sub.2O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2O.sub.3, Ba.sub.2OF.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ca.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ba.sub.2OCl.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OCl.sub.2, Ca.sub.2OCl.sub.2, BaO, SrO, CaO, or ZnO; provided that when M comprises BaO, SrO, CaO, or ZnO, M does not comprise La.sub.2O.sub.3, Ce.sub.2O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2O.sub.3, Ba.sub.2OF.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ca.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ba.sub.2OCl.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OCl.sub.2, or Ca.sub.2OCl.sub.2; X is at least one of MgO or ZnO; R is at least one of Sm, Pr, Tb, Dy, Er, or Ho; m=0 to 2; n=4 to 11; x=0.005 to 1; y=0.005 to 1; p=0 to 1; k=0 to 0.2; r=0 to 0.2; and v=0 to 0.2.

Disclosed are smoothing phosphors for AC LED lighting that are capable of prolonging the light emission time of an AC LED (or array of AC LEDs) during a cycle response to a, phase change of the alternating current to substantially reduce flicker. The smoothing phoshor of the present teachings comprises a matrix represented by the formula: (1krv)M.Math.(mp)X.Math.(n0.5x0.5y)Al.sub.2O.sub.3:(x+p)MnO, ySiO.sub.2, kEu, rR, vLi, wherein M is at least one of La.sub.2O.sub.3, Ce.sub.2O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2O.sub.3, Ba.sub.2OF.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ca.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ba.sub.2OCl.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OCl.sub.2, Ca.sub.2OCl, BaO, SrO, CaO, or ZnO; provided that when M comprises BaO, SrO, CaO, or ZnO, M does not comprise La.sub.2O.sub.3, Ce.sub.2O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2O.sub.3, Ba.sub.2OF.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ca.sub.2OF.sub.2, Ba.sub.2OCl.sub.2, Sr.sub.2OCl.sub.2, or Ca.sub.2OCl.sub.2; X is at least one of MgO or ZnO; R is at least one of Sm, Pr, Tb, Dy, Er, or Ho; m=0 to 2; n=4 to 11; x=0.005 to 1; y=0.005 to 1; p=0 to 1; k=0 to 0.2; r=0 to 0.2; and v=0 to 0.2.

A phosphor material is presented that includes a blend of a first phosphor, a second phosphor and a third phosphor. The first phosphor includes a composition having a general formula of RE.sub.2yM.sub.1+yA.sub.2ySc.sub.ySi.sub.nwGe.sub.wO.sub.12+:Ce.sup.3+ wherein RE is selected from a lanthanide ion or Y.sup.3+, where M is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba, A is selected from Mg or Zn and where 0y2, 2.5n3.5, 0w1, and 1.51.5. The second phosphor includes a complex fluoride doped with manganese (Mn.sup.4+), and the third phosphor include a phosphor composition having an emission peak in a range from about 520 nanometers to about 680 nanometers. A lighting apparatus including such a phosphor material is also presented. The light apparatus includes a light source in addition to the phosphor material.

A neutron scintillator composed of a resin composition comprising (A) an inorganic phosphor containing at least one neutron capture isotope selected from lithium 6 and boron 10 and (B) a resin, wherein the inorganic phosphor is a particle having a specific surface area of 50 to 3,000 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3, and the internal transmittance based on 1 cm of the optical path length of the resin composition is 30%/cm or more at the emission wavelength of the inorganic phosphor.