Nightcrawler
Member
I've read on here many references to "IR" illuminators in regards to night vision. In Qatar, we were issued night vision binoculars that had what was labeled as an "IR Illuminator". I've also read about IR Lasers, and IR adapters that can be fitted to flashlights.
This was essentially a very dim red light, that couldn't be seen by the naked eye unless you were looking right at it. HOwever, through the NVGs, it lit up the scene like a spotlight.
Now, I've also worked with true infra-red optics, that is, thermal vision. Infra red light is heat; it cannot be seen in the normal spectrum, and standard night vision is just normal-spectrum amplification.
So, a truly infra-red laser wouldn't be visible to light amplification goggles (and I think would be some kind of heat ray...cool). And, I don't think there is a filter you can put on a visible light to make it an infra red light, since IR light is heat.
Similarly, you can't see lasers or flashlights through a thermal scope, regardless of their filter. Different spectrum.
So what's the deal? Obviously it's not pure infra red light we're talking about, as IR light can't be seen with the human eye. Are IR lasers/lights, like, on the border of the IR spectrum, hence giving them that moniker?
This was essentially a very dim red light, that couldn't be seen by the naked eye unless you were looking right at it. HOwever, through the NVGs, it lit up the scene like a spotlight.
Now, I've also worked with true infra-red optics, that is, thermal vision. Infra red light is heat; it cannot be seen in the normal spectrum, and standard night vision is just normal-spectrum amplification.
So, a truly infra-red laser wouldn't be visible to light amplification goggles (and I think would be some kind of heat ray...cool). And, I don't think there is a filter you can put on a visible light to make it an infra red light, since IR light is heat.
Similarly, you can't see lasers or flashlights through a thermal scope, regardless of their filter. Different spectrum.
So what's the deal? Obviously it's not pure infra red light we're talking about, as IR light can't be seen with the human eye. Are IR lasers/lights, like, on the border of the IR spectrum, hence giving them that moniker?