Abstract: A backlight 23 of the present invention has a panel case 24 and plural phosphor-coated anode sections 25 each arranged flatly in the panel case and plural linear cathode sections 26. Each of the plural linear cathode sections 26 has a conductive wire 33 having a great number of field concentration assisting concave/convex sections 34 formed on its outer peripheral surface and a carbon-based film 35 having, as a field electron emitter, a great number of sharp microscopic sections on the field concentration assisting concave/convex sections 34, wherein the field electron emitter emits electrons toward each of the plural phosphor-coated anode sections 25 so as to be radially widespread, when DC voltage is applied between the phosphor-coated anode sections 25 and the linear cathode sections 26.

Abstract: A carbon fiber mixed paper 8 obtained by mixing a fiber blend 7, which is obtained by knitting a carbon fiber and a glass fiber, into a paper material is used as the material for an anode that opposes to an electron emission cathode. A phosphor is applied onto this carbon fiber mixed paper 8, and further, an electrode 9 is provided. The present invention reduces heat generation at the anode as much as possible and enables uniform illumination without providing a diffuser. Moreover, the present invention does not require an electrode made of a transparent conductive film.

Abstract: A lighting device of the present invention has a wire-shaped cathode provided along an axial direction, a phosphor-coated anode that opposes to the wire-shaped cathode in the axial direction and a vacuum sealing tube that vacuum-seals these cathode and anode, wherein the wire-shaped cathode has a wire and a carbon film provided on the entire circumference of this wire, and the phosphor-coated anode has an anode section and a phosphor section provided on this anode section.