mellanIR

MellanIR is a term used in several European languages to denote the mid-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, lying between the near-infrared and the thermal infrared. Because definitions vary, mellanIR is commonly associated with wavelengths from about 2 to 20 micrometers, with many sources focusing on the core range of roughly 3 to 8 micrometers. In English-language literature the standard term is mid-infrared (MIR).

The mellanIR region is notable for its abundance of molecular vibrational transitions. This makes it especially valuable for spectroscopy and chemical sensing, as many compounds exhibit distinctive absorption features in this band. Atmospheric transmission in the mellanIR also influences instrumentation and applications, with transmission windows around roughly 3–5 μm and 8–12 μm shaping remote sensing, imaging, and open-air measurements.

Detectors and optics for mellanIR typically involve cooled semiconductor technologies to achieve high sensitivity. Common detector materials include indium antimonide (InSb) and mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) for broader MIR coverage, and quantum cascade detectors or detectors tailored to specific sub-bands. Uncooled microbolometers are used in some thermal imaging devices within parts of the mellanIR, though with different performance characteristics. Optical components often rely on materials such as germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulfide, and various chalcogenide glasses, with coatings optimized for specific MIR wavelengths.

Applications of mellanIR span scientific and industrial fields, including spectroscopy for chemical analysis, environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, astronomy, defense and security, and industrial process control. The term mellanIR is less common in English, where mid-infrared is preferred, but it appears in non-English texts, product names, and regional scientific usage.