Infrared lights

[nirad]

What are the uses for an infrared light? Do they flouresce objects like UV light? Is the LED life span affected by the IR light? I need some clarifications???

[Neg2LED]

IR lights can be used to 'light up' an area with a light that night vision gear/Closed Circuit Cameras/Digital Cameras can see. an IR led lasts just as long as a normal LED.

neg

[The_LED_Museum]

I'll second what Neg2LED said.
I might also add that many portable video cameras can "see" the light from IR LEDs.

[Draco_Americanus]

also for remote controll, Tv remotes use IR leds, They make nice flashlights for nightvison stuff!

[Aloft]

There are also some compounds that "flouresce" under infra-red light. I've purchased a lot of UV products from places like MaxMax.com, Shannon Luminous Materials and UV Products. . . I seem to remember at least one of these companies having a product that was invisible except under IR light.

[wholeflaffer]

Might be something like the chemical that is applied to the corner of the Radio Shack 'IR Detector' card. Sort of orang-brownish in color, it reflects IR (as in TV remote control LEDs) in a different color (I forget which).

I can't think of any natural material that would flouresce with IR as it might under UV. Seems that the light energy wouldn't be there to excite the atoms with IR as it would be with visible or UV frequency light.