Difference between revisions of "Infrared" - New World Encyclopedia
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The discovery of infrared radiation is commonly ascribed to the [[astronomer]] [[William Herschel]], in the early nineteenth century. When Herschel used a prism to [[refract]] light from the [[Sun]], he detected infrared radiation, beyond the [[red]] part of the spectrum, through an increase in temperature recorded on a [[thermometer]]. | The discovery of infrared radiation is commonly ascribed to the [[astronomer]] [[William Herschel]], in the early nineteenth century. When Herschel used a prism to [[refract]] light from the [[Sun]], he detected infrared radiation, beyond the [[red]] part of the spectrum, through an increase in temperature recorded on a [[thermometer]]. | ||
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| + | == Infrared radiation and heat == | ||
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| + | Infrared radiation is popularly known as [[heat]] radiation, because many physics teachers traditionally attribute all the heat from the Sun to infrared light. This is inexact—visible light from the Sun accounts for 50% of the heating, and electromagnetic waves of any frequency will have a detectable heating effect if they are intense enough. It is true, however, that objects at room [[temperature]] will emit heat mostly in the mid-infrared band (see [[black body]]). | ||
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==Different regions of infrared== | ==Different regions of infrared== | ||
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This classification scheme, however, is not used universally. For instance, some studies use the following subdivisions: near IR (0.75–5 µm); mid IR (5–30 µm); and long IR (30–1,000 µm). Especially at the wavelengths used for telecommunications, the spectrum is further subdivided into individual bands, because of the limitations of detectors, amplifiers, and sources. | This classification scheme, however, is not used universally. For instance, some studies use the following subdivisions: near IR (0.75–5 µm); mid IR (5–30 µm); and long IR (30–1,000 µm). Especially at the wavelengths used for telecommunications, the spectrum is further subdivided into individual bands, because of the limitations of detectors, amplifiers, and sources. | ||
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[[Image:Atmospheric transmittance infrared.gif|right|thumb|332px|Plot of atmospheric transmittance in part of the infrared region.]] | [[Image:Atmospheric transmittance infrared.gif|right|thumb|332px|Plot of atmospheric transmittance in part of the infrared region.]] | ||
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* '''U-band''' 1,625–1,675 nm | * '''U-band''' 1,625–1,675 nm | ||
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== Applications == | == Applications == | ||
===Night vision=== | ===Night vision=== | ||
| − | Infrared is used in [[night-vision]] equipment, when there is insufficient [[visible light]] to see an object. | + | |
| + | Infrared is used in [[night-vision]] equipment, when there is insufficient [[visible light]] to see an object. Radiation that is detected is converted into an image on a screen, with hotter objects showing up in different shades than cooler ones. In this manner, [[police]] and military personnel can detect thermally significant targets, such as humans and [[automobile]]s. | ||
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| + | IR radiation is a secondary effect of heat—it is not heat itself. Heat itself is a measure of the energy of movement (translational energy) of molecules of matter. Thus, "thermal" detectors do not actually detect heat but the difference in IR radiation from objects. | ||
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| + | Military gunnery ranges sometimes use special materials that reflect IR radiation, to simulate enemy vehicles with running engines. The targets can be at the exact temperature as the surrounding terrain, but they emit (reflect) much more IR radiation. Different materials emit more or less IR radiation as temperature increases or decreases, depending on the composition of the material. | ||
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| + | During the [[Second World War]], British, American, and German forces used simple infrared sensors as night vision aids for snipers. | ||
[[Smoke]] is more transparent to infrared than to visible light, so [[firefighter]]s use infrared imaging equipment when working in smoke-filled areas. | [[Smoke]] is more transparent to infrared than to visible light, so [[firefighter]]s use infrared imaging equipment when working in smoke-filled areas. | ||
Revision as of 01:59, 27 May 2006
Infrared (IR) is a term used for radiation that covers a certain band of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from a wavelength slightly longer than that of visible red light up to a wavelength slightly shorter than that of microwave radiation. The name means "below red," derived from the Latin word infra, which means "below." (Red is the color of visible light of longest wavelength.) In numerical terms, IR radiation spans three orders of magnitude, with wavelengths between approximately 750 nanometers (nm) and 1 millimeter (mm).
Discovery
The discovery of infrared radiation is commonly ascribed to the astronomer William Herschel, in the early nineteenth century. When Herschel used a prism to refract light from the Sun, he detected infrared radiation, beyond the red part of the spectrum, through an increase in temperature recorded on a thermometer.
Infrared radiation and heat
Infrared radiation is popularly known as heat radiation, because many physics teachers traditionally attribute all the heat from the Sun to infrared light. This is inexact—visible light from the Sun accounts for 50% of the heating, and electromagnetic waves of any frequency will have a detectable heating effect if they are intense enough. It is true, however, that objects at room temperature will emit heat mostly in the mid-infrared band (see black body).
Different regions of infrared
IR radiation is often subdivided into narrower regions of the spectrum. The wavelength ranges according to the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut für Normung, DIN) are as follows:
- near infrared, NIR or IR-A: 0.75–1.4 micrometers (µm), commonly used in fiber optic telecommunications;
- short wavelength (shortwave) IR, SWIR or IR-B: 1.4–3 µm (water absorption increases significantly at 1.45 µm);
- mid wavelength IR, MWIR or IR-C: also called intermediate-IR (IIR), 3–8 µm
- long wavelength IR, LWIR or IR-C: 8–15 µm;
- far infrared FIR: 15–1,000 µm.
This classification scheme, however, is not used universally. For instance, some studies use the following subdivisions: near IR (0.75–5 µm); mid IR (5–30 µm); and long IR (30–1,000 µm). Especially at the wavelengths used for telecommunications, the spectrum is further subdivided into individual bands, because of the limitations of detectors, amplifiers, and sources.
The common system of nomenclature is justified by human responses to IR radiation. Near IR is the region closest in wavelength to the radiation detectable by the human eye, mid and far IR are progressively farther from the visible region of the spectrum. Other definitions follow different physical mechanisms (such as emission peaks and water absorption), and the newest follow technical reasons, based on the sensitivity of detectors used. For instance, common silicon detectors are sensitive to about 1,050 nm, while the sensitivity of indium gallium arsenide starts around 950 nm and ends between 1,700 and 2,200 nm. (International standards for these specifications are currently not available.)
The boundary between visible and infrared light is not precisely defined. The human eye is markedly less sensitive to red light above 700 nm wavelength, but particularly intense light (such as from lasers) can be detected up to approximately 780 nm. The onset of infrared is defined (according to different standards) at various values between these two wavelengths, typically at 750 nm.
Telecommunication bands in infrared
Optical telecommunication in the near infrared is technically often separated into different frequency bands because of availability of light sources, transmitting/absorbing materials (fibers), and detectors.
- O-band 1,260–1,360 nm
- E-band 1,360–1,460 nm
- S-band 1,460–1,530 nm
- C-band 1,530–1,565 nm
- L-band 1,565–1,625 nm
- U-band 1,625–1,675 nm
Applications
Night vision
Infrared is used in night-vision equipment, when there is insufficient visible light to see an object. Radiation that is detected is converted into an image on a screen, with hotter objects showing up in different shades than cooler ones. In this manner, police and military personnel can detect thermally significant targets, such as humans and automobiles.
IR radiation is a secondary effect of heat—it is not heat itself. Heat itself is a measure of the energy of movement (translational energy) of molecules of matter. Thus, "thermal" detectors do not actually detect heat but the difference in IR radiation from objects.
Military gunnery ranges sometimes use special materials that reflect IR radiation, to simulate enemy vehicles with running engines. The targets can be at the exact temperature as the surrounding terrain, but they emit (reflect) much more IR radiation. Different materials emit more or less IR radiation as temperature increases or decreases, depending on the composition of the material.
During the Second World War, British, American, and German forces used simple infrared sensors as night vision aids for snipers.
Smoke is more transparent to infrared than to visible light, so firefighters use infrared imaging equipment when working in smoke-filled areas.
Other imaging
In infrared photography, infrared filters are used to capture the near-infrared spectrum. Digital cameras often use infrared blockers. Cheaper digital cameras and some camera phones which do not have appropriate filters can "see" near-infrared, appearing as a bright white colour (try pointing a TV remote at your digital camera). This is especially pronounced when taking pictures of subjects near IR-bright areas (such as near a lamp), where the resulting infrared interference can wash out the image. It is also worth mentioning 'T-ray' imaging, which is imaging using far infrared or terahertz radiation. Lack of bright sources makes terahertz photography technically more challenging than most other infrared imaging techniques. Recently T-ray imaging has been of considerable interest due to a number of new developments such as terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.
Thermography
Infrared radiation can be used to remotely determine the temperature of objects (if the emissivity is known). This is termed thermography, or in the case of very hot objects in the NIR or visible it is termed pyrometry. Thermography (thermal imaging) is mainly used in military and industrial applications but the technology is reaching the public market in the form of infrared cameras on cars due to the massively reduced production costs.
Heating
Infrared radiation is used in infrared saunas to heat the sauna's occupants, and to remove ice from the wings of aircraft (de-icing). It is also gaining popularity as a method of heating asphalt pavements in place during new construction or in repair of damaged asphalt. Infrared can be used in cooking and heating food as it does not heat the air around it, but the object that it's beams are emitting on.
Communications
IR data transmission is also employed in short-range communication among computer peripherals and personal digital assistants. These devices usually conform to standards published by IrDA, the Infrared Data Association. Remote controls and IrDA devices use infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit infrared radiation which is focused by a plastic lens into a narrow beam. The beam is modulated, i.e. switched on and off, to encode the data. The receiver uses a silicon photodiode to convert the infrared radiation to an electric current. It responds only to the rapidly pulsing signal created by the transmitter, and filters out slowly changing infrared radiation from ambient light. Infrared communications are useful for indoor use in areas of high population density. IR does not penetrate walls and so does not interfere with other devices in adjoining rooms. Infrared is the most common way for remote controls to command appliances.
Free space optical communication using infrared lasers can be a relatively inexpensive way to install a communications link in an urban area operating at up to 4 Gigabit/s, compared to the cost of burying fiber optic cable.
Infrared lasers are used to provide the light for optical fiber communications systems. Infrared light with a wavelength around 1,330 nm (least dispersion) or 1,550 nm (best transmission) are the best choices for standard silica fibers.
Spectroscopy
Infrared radiation spectroscopy is the study of the composition of (usually) organic compounds, finding out a compound's structure and composition based on the percentage transmittance of IR radiation through a sample. Different frequencies are absorbed by different stretches and bends in the molecular bonds occurring inside the sample. Carbon dioxide, for example, has a strong absorption band at 4.2 µm.
History
Biological systems
The pit viper is known to have two infrared sensory pits on its head. There is controversy over the exact thermal sensitivity of this biological infrared detection system.
- B. S. Jones; W. F. Lynn; M. O. Stone (2001). Thermal Modeling of Snake Infrared Reception: Evidence for Limited Detection Range. Journal of Theoretical Biology 209 (2): 201-211. Digital object identifier (DOI): 10.1006/jtbi.2000.2256.
- V. Gorbunov; N. Fuchigami; M. Stone; M. Grace; V. V. Tsukruk (2002). Biological Thermal Detection: Micromechanical and Microthermal Properties of Biological Infrared Receptors. Biomacromolecules 3 (1): 106-115. Digital object identifier (DOI): 10.1021/bm015591f.
See also
- Night vision
- Infrared astronomy
- Infrared camera
- Infrared filter
- Infrared photography
- Infrared spectroscopy
- Infrared thermometer
- Thermography
- terahertz radiation
- Thermographic camera
- Infrared homing
External links
Journals
- Infrared Physics and Technology (Elsevier) (last access June 2005).
Web sites
- Infrared Spectroscopy NASA Open Spectrum wiki site.
- IrDAOrganization that creates low cost infrared data interconnection standards.
- How to build an USB infrared receiver to remote control PCs
- Infrared WavesDetailed explanation of infrared light.
- U.S. Navy - Electronic Warfare and Radar Systems Engineering Handbook Source of transmittance diagram and further information on electro-optics.
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