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. </dd>
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. [[/a>|/a> ]]

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use