Can You See Ir Laser With Thermal

The infrared laser, also referred to as the IR laser, is the most prevalently used type of laser across various industries. It sees extensive application in manufacturing, security and defense sectors, medical research, and many other fields. Despite its widespread use, many people are unaware of its capability to detect temperature changes through a process known as thermography. This technique has significant applications in both medicine and manufacturing. Additionally, this article discusses thermal aiming lasers and thermal target illuminators.

A thermal imager, with sufficient precision, can detect minor variations in heat and represent them as an image (or thermogram) on a screen. Some of the most sophisticated devices globally can identify temperature differences as minute as 0.01°C. Different colors correspond to varying temperatures in thermal images; in black-and-white thermal images, the hotter an object, the lighter its hue (modern thermal imagers can invert this or use a range of colors). Because people, animals, and cars generate heat and are usually warmer than their surroundings, they can be seen clearly with a thermal imager. Cold-blooded creatures like snakes and alligators are harder to spot as their body temperature adjusts to their environment.

Let’s start with some background. Our eyes perceive reflected light. Daylight cameras, night vision devices, and the human eye all function on the same fundamental principle: visible light energy strikes an object and bounces off, then a detector receives it and converts it into an image.

These detectors, whether in an eye or a camera, require adequate light to create an image. Naturally, there’s no sunlight to reflect off objects at night, so visibility is dependent on starlight, moonlight, and artificial lights. Without sufficient light, these devices can’t help much with visibility.

Thermal Imaging Cameras

Thermal imagers operate on a completely different principle. Although we call them “cameras,” they are actually sensors. To understand their functionality, you must set aside preconceived notions about how cameras create images.

FLIRs (Forward Looking Infrared Radiometers) create images from heat rather than visible light. Heat (also called infrared or thermal energy) and light are both parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, but a camera that detects visible light cannot see thermal energy, and vice versa.

Thermal cameras detect not just heat but also tiny differences in heat—as small as 0.01°C—and display them as shades of grey or various colors. This concept can be difficult to grasp, so it requires some explanation.

Everything in our daily environment emits thermal energy, even ice. The hotter an object, the more thermal energy it emits, known as a “heat signature.” When two adjacent objects have even slightly different heat signatures, they appear clearly to a FLIR, regardless of lighting conditions.

Thermal energy derives from multiple sources, depending on what you’re observing. Some entities—warm-blooded animals (including humans), engines, and machinery, for instance—generate their own heat biologically or mechanically. Others, like land, rocks, buoys, and vegetation, absorb solar heat during the day and radiate it at night.

Since different materials absorb and emit thermal energy at varying rates, an area perceived as a single temperature is actually a patchwork of subtly different temperatures. Thus, a log submerged in water for days appears at a different temperature than the water and is visible to a thermal imager. FLIRs detect these temperature variations and convert them into detailed images.

While this might seem intricate, modern thermal cameras are straightforward to use. Their imagery is clear and easy to interpret, requiring no special training. If you can watch TV, you can use a FLIR thermal camera.

Night Vision Devices

The greenish images seen in movies and on TV are produced by night vision goggles (NVGs) or other similar devices. NVGs amplify small amounts of visible light and project the enhanced image onto a display.

Cameras utilizing NVG technology share the same limitations as the naked eye: without sufficient visible light, they cannot see effectively. The performance of any device relying on reflected light is constrained by the amount and quality of the reflected light.

NVG and other low-light cameras are less effective during twilight hours, when there is too much light for them to function properly but insufficient light for the naked eye. Thermal cameras, unaffected by visible light, can provide clear images even when facing the setting sun. You can even aim a spotlight at a FLIR and still get a perfect picture.

Infrared Illuminated (I2) Cameras

I2 cameras try to create their own reflected light by projecting a beam of near-infrared energy that their imagers can detect when it bounces off an object. This method works to an extent, but I2 cameras still depend on reflected light, thus sharing the limitations of other night vision cameras that rely on reflected light energy—short range and poor contrast.

Contrast

Visible light cameras—daylight cameras, NVG cameras, and I2 cameras—operate by detecting reflected light energy. However, the amount of reflected light received isn’t the sole factor determining visibility; image contrast is also crucial.

If an object has high contrast against its background, it will be easier to see with a visible light camera. Conversely, an object with poor contrast will be hard to see, regardless of the brightness of sunlight. A white object against a dark background has high contrast. A darker object will be difficult for these cameras to detect against a dark background, a condition known as poor contrast. At night, the lack of visible light reduces image contrast, further diminishing visible light camera performance.

Thermal imagers do not face these issues. They don’t rely on reflected light energy; instead, they detect heat. Every object in daily life has a heat signature. Hence, thermal imagers offer a better chance of detecting objects at night compared to visible light cameras, even night vision cameras.

Many objects of interest, like humans, generate their own contrast due to their heat. Thermal imagers excel because they create images based on the minute differences in heat between objects.

Night vision devices share the drawbacks of daylight and low-light TV cameras: they need sufficient light and contrast to produce usable images. In contrast, thermal imagers provide clear images day and night, creating their own contrast. Without a doubt, thermal cameras are the best 24-hour imaging option.

Thermal Aiming Laser

The CTAL operates within the thermal spectrum and is compatible with fielded thermal imagers. It is a weapon that can be mounted on MILSTD-1913 rails using the LaRue Tactical mount. The CTAL offers full windage and elevation adjustments and includes protection against reverse battery polarity. It supports several operating modes, including Class 1 operation.

Specifications:

• Laser Classification: Class 3B with Train Mode (Class 1)
• Wavelength: 3 to 5 microns
• Range: Over 2 kilometers

Laser Product Sales: IR and thermal laser products are available only to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies, U.S. Government Agencies, and Qualified Agents.

Export Notice: The export of the products described in this data sheet is regulated by the U.S. Department of State under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) as outlined in Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 120–130. The release of this data sheet is unrestricted, but specifications may change without notice.

Thermal Target Illuminator:

The new range of SVTS thermal riflescopes includes continuous calibration, eliminating the need to manually start calibration or worry about a frozen screen image at an inconvenient time. These scopes feature an accelerometer, allowing them to detect when a shot is fired and provide specific functions. For example, when a shot is taken while focusing on a zoomed-in target, the camera may automatically zoom out to provide a broader field of view for easier target acquisition. Additionally, the 10 seconds before and after each shot are automatically saved to a memory card when the scope is set to record video in a continuous loop. A heat tracker feature alerts users to potential targets outside the visible screen.

Model prices range from $1,199 to $3,499 MSRP. The top product, the SVTS-640, features a 640 x 480 sensor resolution with 1x, 4x, and 6x digital zoom. It’s important to note that digital zoom enlarges the 640480 image pixels rather than using optical zoom, which employs lenses for magnification. The high cost of germanium lenses prevents these devices from offering optical zoom like conventional riflescopes.

Several months have passed since the release of the Night Chase IR illumination and laser sight. This compact device includes an IR laser designator, an IR illuminator, and a backup iron sight that can be attached to the handguard at the 12 o’clock position. The laser’s beam is less than 1 mrad at 100 yards and extends to about 500 yards and beyond. The IR illuminator helps acquire targets at closer ranges—up to around 100 yards—when using NVGs. The backup iron sight can be raised when needed and stowed away when not in use. The entire Night Chasing device weighs only 4 ounces.

The non-restricted Class 1 IR laser has an 850 nm wavelength and is rated at less than 0.7 mW. The wavelength of the illuminator’s output remains constant. The device has a claimed battery life of two hours and an MSRP of $540.

The FIR-i Focusable IR Illuminator, just under 5 inches long, is the final option. It features a powerful infrared illuminator capable of emitting a flood with a focusable beam for short ranges or a narrow beam that can reach up to 1,000 yards. The accompanying Picatinny mount is detachable, allowing it to be mounted on a weapon or used as a handheld device. A CR123 battery provides approximately one hour of runtime. The FIR-i emits 600mW at an 850nm wavelength, with an MSRP of $300.