Luminescent materials are of interest to members of the spectroscopic, basic science, engineering and display communities. This book presents a wide range of topics from basic research of fluorescence to applications-driven research on phosphors and scintillators. Papers on various luminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent mechanisms arising in inorganic crystalline and noncrystalline materials, as well as in organic materials, are featured. The use of fluorescence as a sensing technique has emerged as a sensitive and noninvasive way to probe biological activity or measure physical phenomena. To that end, progress in understanding fluorescence, the development of novel applications of fluorescence, and novel material structures are addressed. Phosphors for the emerging flat-panel-display industry are also highlighted. Topics include: inorganic phosphors; thin-film phosphors; synthesis, processing and characterization; mechanisms and defects; organic luminescence and theory and luminescence sensors.