A General Introduction to Luminescent Materials

This chapter addresses those readers for who luminescent materials are a new challenge. Of course you are familiar with luminescent materials: you meet them everyday in your laboratory and in your home. If this should come as a surprise, switch on your fluorescent lighting, relax in front of your television set, or take a look at the screen of your computer. Perhaps you would like something more specialized. Remember then your visit to the hospital for X-ray photography. Or the laser in your institute; the heart of this instrument consists of a luminescent material. However, such a high degree of specialization is not necessary. The packet of washing powder in your supermarket also contains luminescent material.