I've got these IR viewing cards used to see an ~800nm laser. They "charge up" with UV and then the IR photon makes them emit orange. The first time I was using them I left 'em in a drawer and pulled them out... didn't work too well... Not much UV in my drawer. :^) Now they stay out on my optical table.
George H.
You could probably pump them continuously with a UV LED. That almost sounds like a product.
A lot of digital cameras can be used as IR viewers. Here's a 1050 nm laser pic. I think older/cheaper cams didn't have good IR filtering.
Well maybe it doesn't need UV... it's the same as Vrc5 here, which says it needs visible light.
Yup we use those too. (much more sensitive) It's hard moving a camera around, to line up beams. A card is easy.
George H.
Somebody used to make an upconverter that was basically a disc coated with electron-storage material, a motor, and a blue LED. Keeping the viewer card spinning kept it pumped reasonably uniformly.
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
Most CCD-based RS-170 (monochrome CCTV) cameras work fine out to about
1100 nm. I generally use them on a Manfrotto Magic Arm, which screws right into the optical table and is very aptly named.Cheers
Phil Hobbs
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required