Far infrared

Far infrared (FIR) is a region in the infrared spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. Far infrared is often defined as any radiation with a wavelength of 15 micrometers (μm) to 1 mm (corresponding to a range of about 20 THz to 300 GHz), which places far infrared radiation within the CIE IR-B and IR-C bands.[1] The long-wave side of the FIR spectrum overlaps with so named terahertz radiation.[2] Different sources use different boundaries for the far infrared; for example, astronomers sometimes define far infrared as wavelengths between 25 μm and 350 μm.[3]

Diagram of part of the electromagnetic spectrum

Visible light includes radiation with wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm, meaning that far infrared photons have tens to hundreds times less energy than visible light photons.[4]

Applications

Astronomy
Main article: Far-infrared astronomy

Due to black-body radiation, objects with temperatures between about 5 K and 340 K will emit radiation in the far infrared range according to Wien's displacement law. This property is sometimes used to observe interstellar gases where new stars are often formed.

For example, the center of the Milky Way Galaxy is very bright in far infrared images because the dense concentration of stars there heats the surrounding dust and causes it to emit radiation in this part of the spectrum. Disregarding the center of our own galaxy, the brightest far infrared object in the sky is the galaxy M82, which radiates as much far infrared light from its central region as all of the stars in the Milky Way combined. This is due to the dust at the center of M82 being heated by an unknown source.[3]

Human body detection

Some human proximity sensors use passive infrared sensing in the far infrared wavelength to detect both static[5] and/or moving human bodies.[6]

Therapeutic modality

The infrared radiation (IR) band covers the wavelength range of 700 nm – 1 mm, frequency range of 430 THz – 300 GHz, and photon energy range of 1.7 eV – 1.24 meV. Far-infrared radiation (FIR) is found on the wavelength spectrum at 15–1000 μm with a frequency range of 20 – 0.3 THz, and photon energy range of 83 – 1.2 meV. In these IR radiation bands, researchers have noted that the far-infrared radiation band "transfers energy purely in the form of heat which can be perceived by the thermoreceptors in human skin as radiant heat."[7] They report that this radiant heat can penetrate up to 1.5 inches (almost 4 cm) beneath the skin. Biomedical researchers have experimented with the use of FIR-emitting ceramics which are embedded into various fibers and woven into the fabric of garments. These researchers noted in subjects a "delay" in the "onset of fatigue induced by muscle contractions."[8] They propose that this ceramic-emitted FIR (cFIR) has the potential to promote cell repair.

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References
  1. Byrnes, James (2009). Unexploded Ordnance Detection and Mitigation. Springer. pp. 21–22. ISBN 978-1-4020-9252-7.
  2. A.Glagoleva-Arkadiewa. (1924). "Short Electromagnetic Waves of wave-length up to 82 Microns". Nature 2844 113. doi:10.1038/113640a0
  3. "Near, Mid and Far-Infrared". Caltech Infrared Processing and Analysis Center. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  4. Gregory Hallock Smith (2006), Camera lenses: from box camera to digital, SPIE Press, p. 4, ISBN 978-0-8194-6093-6
  5. "Mems Thermal Sensors". Omron Electronic Components Web. Omron. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  6. "Pyroelectric Detectors & Sensors for Far Infrared, FIR (5.0 μm – 15 μm)". Excelitas. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  7. Vatansever, Fatma; Hamblin, Michael R. (2012). "Far infrared radiation (FIR): Its biological effects and medical applications". Photonics & Lasers in Medicine. 1 (4). doi:10.1515/plm-2012-0034. PMID 23833705.
  8. Leung, Ting-Kai (2011). "A Pilot Study of Ceramic Powder Far-Infrared Ray Irradiation (CFIR) on Physiology: Observation of Cell Cultures and Amphibian Skeletal Muscle". The Chinese Journal of Physiology. 54 (4): 247–254. doi:10.4077/CJP.2011.AMM044. PMID 22129823.
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