Thermal Goggles, X-Ray Goggles, ?

[nonequilibrium]

I have no clue where to post this in the forum, but this seemed like a good place.

So of course there exists a thing like thermal goggles. Maybe it's partly due to me being still somewhat a kid (19 years old), but it seems terribly fascinating to be looking into a whole new spectrum: the infra-red. I'm tempted to buy thermal goggles, but it's pricy and I might be a bit disappointed with its applications, but on the other hand, it's truly nothing less than looking into a whole new spectrum, as I have said, and anybody interested in the physics of nature should be able to appreciate such a thing.

I wonder, what is the principle behind Thermal Goggles? And why is it so hard to go into small wavelengths? I have never heard of X-Ray Goggles for example. Do they exist? Is it possible in theory but just very expensive? Because if the infrared-spectrum sounds good to me, then the x-ray and gamma spectrum is just to exciting for words, isn't it.

Thanks for any input. I have no knowledge whatsoever on the practicalities of all of this.

 

[anorlunda]

You can make cameras that are sensitive to IR and UV. However they must actively detect light at the target wavelengths, then generate light at visible wavlenghs. That requires electronics, batteries, and screens. You could do it in a bulky helmet with HUD display.

The best way to achieve this is with a smart phone. You can get apps for IR or UV, perhaps with accessory hardware. You could then feed the phone to a VR headset. But goggles, no.