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A Raspberry Pi-based compact, portable, inexpensive IR viewer for the advanced optics undergraduate laboratory.

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Title: A Raspberry Pi-based compact, portable, inexpensive IR viewer for the advanced optics undergraduate laboratory.
Authors: Pandya, Chanakya, Brown, Yuki, McCollum, Caden, Tyra, Reese, Miller, Nikolus, Khan, Muhammed, Kasicki-Rodriguez, Catherine, McGinnis, Sara, Bali, Samir
Source: American Journal of Physics; Nov2025, Vol. 93 Issue 11, p908-913, 6p
Subject Terms: Raspberry Pi, Infrared imaging, Electronics manufacturing, Portable computers, Three-dimensional printing, Infrared detectors, Project method in teaching, Computer programming
Abstract: Using readily available hobbyist items, specifically, a Raspberry Pi single board computer along with touch screen and camera components, we have built a handheld, portable, compact, rugged, user-friendly infrared viewer costing less than US $200. Our unit costs an order-of-magnitude less than its commercial counterpart, while providing similar sensitivity. Further, our viewer has picture and video-taking capability. Our device is especially useful for undergraduate optics instructional labs, where students may quickly assemble a unit based on the instructions provided in this paper and use the device for various cutting-edge applications described herein. Besides learning about infrared detection technology, students are introduced to basic Linux programming, 3D printing, and electronics assembly skills. Editor's Note: In this paper, the authors present a novel way to construct an infrared viewer using inexpensive components and give step-by-step instructions for assembly and operation. Comparison of this homebuilt viewer's performance to a commercial IR viewer and night vision goggles is given, along with laboratory applications in which the IR viewer can be used, including acquiring photos of alkali-atom fluorescence and imaging an infrared laser beams passage through tabletop optics. Students can construct this IR viewer as an educational project and the assembled device is well-suited for use in advanced instructional and research laboratories [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Physics is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: A Raspberry Pi-based compact, portable, inexpensive IR viewer for the advanced optics undergraduate laboratory.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pandya%2C+Chanakya%22">Pandya, Chanakya</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brown%2C+Yuki%22">Brown, Yuki</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McCollum%2C+Caden%22">McCollum, Caden</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tyra%2C+Reese%22">Tyra, Reese</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Miller%2C+Nikolus%22">Miller, Nikolus</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Khan%2C+Muhammed%22">Khan, Muhammed</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kasicki-Rodriguez%2C+Catherine%22">Kasicki-Rodriguez, Catherine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McGinnis%2C+Sara%22">McGinnis, Sara</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bali%2C+Samir%22">Bali, Samir</searchLink>
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  Data: American Journal of Physics; Nov2025, Vol. 93 Issue 11, p908-913, 6p
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Raspberry+Pi%22">Raspberry Pi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrared+imaging%22">Infrared imaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronics+manufacturing%22">Electronics manufacturing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Portable+computers%22">Portable computers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Three-dimensional+printing%22">Three-dimensional printing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrared+detectors%22">Infrared detectors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Project+method+in+teaching%22">Project method in teaching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+programming%22">Computer programming</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Using readily available hobbyist items, specifically, a Raspberry Pi single board computer along with touch screen and camera components, we have built a handheld, portable, compact, rugged, user-friendly infrared viewer costing less than US $200. Our unit costs an order-of-magnitude less than its commercial counterpart, while providing similar sensitivity. Further, our viewer has picture and video-taking capability. Our device is especially useful for undergraduate optics instructional labs, where students may quickly assemble a unit based on the instructions provided in this paper and use the device for various cutting-edge applications described herein. Besides learning about infrared detection technology, students are introduced to basic Linux programming, 3D printing, and electronics assembly skills. Editor's Note: In this paper, the authors present a novel way to construct an infrared viewer using inexpensive components and give step-by-step instructions for assembly and operation. Comparison of this homebuilt viewer's performance to a commercial IR viewer and night vision goggles is given, along with laboratory applications in which the IR viewer can be used, including acquiring photos of alkali-atom fluorescence and imaging an infrared laser beams passage through tabletop optics. Students can construct this IR viewer as an educational project and the assembled device is well-suited for use in advanced instructional and research laboratories [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: Abstract
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Physics is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1119/5.0251130
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Infrared imaging
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      – SubjectFull: Electronics manufacturing
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      – SubjectFull: Infrared detectors
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      – SubjectFull: Project method in teaching
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      – SubjectFull: Computer programming
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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