Difference between revisions of "Infrared Radiation"
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Infrared Radiation
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Electromagnetic
radiation lying in the wavelength interval from about 75 microns to an
indefinite upper boundary sometimes arbitrarily set at 1000 microns (0.01
centimeter). Also called long-wave radiation.
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At the lower limit of this interval, the infrared radiation spectrum is
bounded by visible radiation, whereas on its upper limit it is bounded by
microwave radiation of the type important in radar technology. See electromagnetic
spectrum. Whereas visible radiation is generated primarily by intra-atomic
processes, infrared radiation is generated almost wholly by larger scale
intramolecular processes, chiefly molecular rotations and internal vibrations
of many types. Electrically symmetric molecules, such as the nitrogen and
oxygen molecules which comprise most of the earth's atmosphere, are not
capable of absorbing or emitting infrared radiation, but several of the
triatomic gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone, are infrared
active and play important roles in the propagation of infrared radiation in
the atmosphere. Since a black body at terrestrial temperature radiates with
maximum intensity in the infrared spectrum (near 10 microns), there exist a
complex system of infrared radiation currents within the earth's atmosphere.
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References
This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use
