| abstract |
A fluorescent material is constituted of phosphor-containing material and fine particles dispersed in this phosphor-containing material. The fine particles have an index of refraction smaller than the phosphors, and the outside shape thereof may be a variety of shapes, such as a spherical shape, a cuboid, a circular cone shape, a triangular cone shape, or an indeterminate form. In addition, a plurality of shapes of microparticles (12) may be mixed and dispersed in the phosphor-containing material. |