phosphor

Definition: Substance that emits visible light as a result of being radiated or primed with electromagnetic energy e.g. electron beams or other light. * The physical phenomenon involved is luminescence. If the luminescent light persists more than a second or so after the incident light is removed, the effect is called phosphorescence; if persistence is short, the effect is flourescence. * Used in colour monitor screens: different formulations emit different colours, hence the slight variations in performance between manufacturers and even between similar models from the same manufacturer. * For monitors, one wants phosphors that flouresce; phosphoresence is for watch-faces.

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