Infrared vision

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Infrared vision is the capability of biological or artificial systems to detect

infrared radiation. The terms thermal vision and thermal imaging,[1][2]
are also commonly used in this context since infrared emissions from a body are directly related to their temperature: hotter objects emit more energy in the infrared spectrum than colder ones.

The human body, as well as many moving or static objects of military or civil interest, are normally warmer than the surrounding environment. Since hotter objects emit more infrared energy than colder ones, it is relatively easy to identify them with an

infrared spectrum. In fact, night vision equipment can be manufactured using one of two technologies:[4] light intensifiers or infrared vision. The former technology uses a photocathode to convert light (in the visible or near infrared
portions of the electromagnetic spectrum) to electrons, amplify the signal and transform it back to photons. Infrared vision on the other hand, uses an infrared detector working at mid or long wavelengths (invisible to the human eye) to capture the heat emitted by an object.

The infrared spectrum

The infrared bands in the electromagnetic spectrum.

The entire

infrared radiation
is better transmitted through the atmosphere, the detector materials used to build the infrared sensors and the main applications. In this way, the Near Infrared (NIR) band is mostly used in fiber optic telecommunication systems since silica (SiO2) provides a low attenuation losses medium for the infrared, whilst the Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) band allows to work on long-distance telecommunications (remote sensing) using a combination of detector materials. The Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) and the Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) bands find applications in Infrared Thermography for military or civil applications, e.g. target signature identification, surveillance, NonDestructive Evaluation, etc. The Very Long Wavelength Infrared (VLWIR) band is used in spectroscopy and astronomy.

Infrared spectral bands.

The MWIR band is preferred when inspecting high temperature objects and the LWIR band when working with near room temperature objects. Other important criteria for band selection are:[9] the operating distance, indoor-outdoor operation, temperature and emissivity of the bodies of interest. For instance, long wavelengths (LWIR) are preferred for outdoor operation since they are less affected by radiation from the Sun. LWIR cameras are typically uncooled systems using Focal Plane Array microbolometers commonly used in industrial IR applications, although cooled LWIR cameras using Mercury Cadmium Tellurium (MCT) detectors exists as well. On the contrary, the majority of the MWIR cameras require cooling, using either liquid nitrogen or a Stirling cycle cooler.[10] Cooling to approximately −196 °C (77 K) offers excellent thermal resolution, but might restrict the span of applications to controlled environments.

Applications

Infrared vision is used extensively by the military for

infrared cameras in the second half of the 1960s, however, the availability of new generations of infrared cameras coupled with growing computer power is providing new civilian (and military) applications, to name only a few:[11] buildings and infrastructure,[12] works of art,[13] aerospace components[14] and processes, maintenance,[15]
defect detection and characterization, law enforcement, surveillance and public services, medical and veterinary thermal imaging. The electronic technique that uses infrared vision to "see" thermal energy, to monitor temperatures and thermal patterns is called infrared thermography.

On February 14, 2013 researchers developed a

living creatures with new abilities, instead of simply replacing or augmenting existing abilities.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "thermal imaging" Encarta World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P) 2007 Microsoft Corporation. 17 Apr. 2008, Encarta Archived 2009-04-22 at the Wayback Machine. Archived 2009-11-01.
  2. ^ "thermal imaging" Cambridge University Press 2008. 17 Apr. 2008, Cambridge.
  3. ^ "tank". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Apr. 2008, Britannica.
  4. ^ "How Night Vision Works" Howstuffworks. 17 Apr. 2008, HowStuffWorks.
  5. ^ Hudson R. D. 1969, Infrared System Engineering, John Wiley & Sons Inc., USA.
  6. ^ Piotrowski J. and Rogalski A. 2004, "Uncooled Long Wavelength Infrared Photon Detectors", Infrared Phys. Technol., 46:115–131.
  7. ^ Rogalski A. and Chrzanowski K. 2002, "Infrared Devices and Techniques", Contributed Paper: Opto-electronics Review, 10(2):111–136.
  8. ^ Ruddock W. 2004, "Infrared Imaging and Open Heart Surgery", from InfraredThermography.com by Advanced Infrared Resources [online]: accessed on June 28, 2004.
  9. ^ Maldague X. P. 2001, Theory and Practice of Infrared Technology for Nondestructive Testing, John Wiley & Sons, N. Y.
  10. ^ "How Stirling Engines Work" Howstuffworks. 17 Apr. 2008, HowStuffWorks.
  11. ^ ndt.net
  12. ^ Garziera R., Amabili M. and Collini L. "Structural health monitoring techniques for historical buildings", Proc. IV Pan American Conference in NDE, [CD-ROM], Buenos Aires, Argentina October 22–27, 2007 [available online:http://www.ndt.net/article/panndt2007/papers/141.pdf]
  13. ^ Grinzato E. "Temperature monitors works of art health as human beings", 16th WCNDT - World Conference on Nondestructive Testing, [CD-rom], Montreal (Quebec), August 30 – September 3, 2004 [available online: http://www.ndt.net/article/wcndt2004/pdf/thermography_thermal_techniques/34_grinzato.pdf]
  14. ^ Shepard S. M. "Flash Thermography of Aerospace Composites", Proc. IV Pan American Conference in NDE, [CD-ROM], Buenos Aires, Argentina October 22–27, 2007 [available online:http://www.ndt.net/article/panndt2007/papers/132.pdf]
  15. ^ Avdelidis N. P., Delegou E. T. and Moropoulou A. "A thermographic survey for the monitoring porous stone", 16th WCNDT - World Conference on Nondestructive Testing, [CD-ROM], Montreal (Quebec), August 30 – September 3, 2004 [available online: http://www.ndt.net/article/wcndt2004/pdf/thermography_thermal_techniques/804_avde.pdf]
  16. ^ "Implant gives rats sixth sense for infrared light". Wired UK. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.

External links

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