An object of the present invention is to provide a
light emitting device which satisfies both properties of excellent color rendering properties for
color reproduction and good light emitting
efficacy, both of which are in the mutual trade-off relationship, by using a blue
semiconductor laser which emits blue
wavelength light with good light emitting efficiency and which has a linear spectrum in the blue
wavelength band. A
light emitting device is comprised of at least a first unit and at least a second unit. The first unit is comprised of a first excitation
light source comprising a
laser element emitting blue
wavelength band excitation light, a wavelength converting member comprising at least one type of fluorescent material and which absorbs at least a portion of an excitation light emitted from the first excitation
light source, converts the wavelength, and releases light with a wavelength longer than the first excitation light, and a
light guide which has a
refractive index in the center region of the cross-section which is higher than the
refractive index of the surrounding region and which transmits the excitation light emitted from the first excitation
light source. The second unit is comprised of a second excitation light source comprising a
laser element which emits excitation light with a
wavelength band shorter than the blue
wavelength band excitation light emitted by the laser element, a wavelength converting member, and a
light guide.