New technology allows cameras to capture colors invisible to the human eye

The technology makes it possible to obtain images of gases and substances such as hydrogen, carbon and sodium, each of

 which has a unique colorin the infrared spectrum. In addition, the camera can “see” biological compounds that occur in nature but are “invisible” to the naked eye or to conventional cameras. The development of scientists will be useful in many areas - from computer games and photography, as well as in the field of security, medicine and astronomy.

The study was conducted by Dr. MichaelMreyen, Yoni Ehrlich, Dr. Assaf Levanon and Prof. Chaim Sukhovsky from the Department of Condensed Material Physics at Tel Aviv University (TAU). 

“The human eye detects photons with lengthswavelengths from 400 to 700 nm - between the wavelengths of blue and red light, explains Dr. Mreyen. “But this is only a tiny part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes radio waves, microwaves, X-rays and more. Below 400 nm there is ultraviolet or UV radiation, and above 700 nm there is infrared, which also has subtypes. Each of these parts of the electromagnetic spectrum contains a large amount of information about materials that has until now been hidden from view.”

The researchers explain that the colors in these partsspectrum are important because many materials have a unique color signature, especially in the mid-infrared region. 

Existing infrared detection technologiesradiation is expensive and in most cases cannot convey these “colors”. In the field of medical imaging, experiments have been carried out in which infrared images are converted into visible light to identify cancer cells by molecules. To date, this conversion has required highly complex and expensive cameras that are often not available for general use.

But in their study, TAU scientists were abledevelop a cheap and effective technology that can be installed on a standard camera. It will make it possible for the first time to convert photons of light from the entire mid-infrared region into the visible. Precisely at those frequencies that the human eye and a standard camera can detect.

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