re Lasers

["Smith, Kirby A" <kirby.a.smith@lmco.com>]

Robert Myers <rmyers@inetone.net> wrote:
--------------------
Very recent discussions regarding IR pass filters got me to thinking.
(Pretty rare, huh?)

I saw on TV recently a night vision HUD for upscale cars.  I forget which
make (Caddy?).  If this IR HUD does reach it to market there would be an
automatic market developed for auxilliary lighting for these systems.

I wonder if Hella or PIAA or someone might not already be developing lights
for (ahem) *this* purpose.

Has anyone here proposed such a project to one of these manufacturers?
Perhaps we, as a group of up-scale auto owners, should make such proposals.
 :-)

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AFAIK, these night vision systems work on long-wave IR, not the near-visible
IR used with night-vision goggles.  They use micro-bolometer arrays or
micro-ferroelectric arrays to sense the natural radiant emission of the
earth, which peaks in the 8 - 12 micron band.  It would not be practical
(for us) to put more "light" down the road at these wavelengths then the
terrain emits.  (Unless you want to carry a megawatt gas dynamic CO2 laser.)

                .... Kirby   (Kirby A. Smith)
                              2 x 1988 90q
                          New Hampshire USA