Luminescent materials : a quantum chemical approach for computer aided discovery and design This book describes a unique combination of quantum chemical methods for calculating the basic physical properties of luminescent materials or phosphors. These solid inorganic materials containing an optically active dopant are key players in several major fields of societal interest including energy efficient lighting solar cells and medical imaging. The novel ab initio methods described in this book are especially designed to target the crowded and complex electronic excited states of lanthanide activators in inorganic solids. The book is well suited to both new and experienced researchers alike and appeals to a broad range of theoretical and experimental backgrounds. The material presented enables an adept understanding of elaborate calculations which in tandem with experiments give essential insight into difficult luminescence problems and quandaries thus fully preparing the reader for an educated search for new functional luminescent materials. Introduction Ab initio multiconfigurational embedded cluster methods for luminescent materials. Tutorial: Performing ab initio calculations on complex manifolds of excited states of lanthanides in solids Excited state manifolds of luminescent materials Fundamental studies on luminescence Many electron state energy diagrams of activators in hosts Prospect: Towards computational design of luminescent materials.