The discovery of this wave occurred because many early experiments searched for similarities between infrared energy and visible light. These were finally revealed when, in 1847, Armand Hipolyte, Luis Pizeau and Jean B. Foucault of France showed that infrared radiation produced interference patterns similar to those of visible light. The filament, which is sealed in a gas filled bulb or quartz tube is heated by an electric and operated at a temperature of 4000 degrees F. to produce infrared rays. One use of infrared that we see every day is a TV remote control .
Doctors use infrared lamps to treat skin diseases and relieve the pain of sore muscles.
In these treatments, the infrared rays pass through the patient's skin and produce heat. Scientific advances pertaining to infrared have allowed buildings to keep cool even in the summer. Gold transparent films in the windows of large office buildings reflect infrared and help to keep temperatures cool. Burglar alarms also use infrared. Industry Infrared is used extensively in specially-designed ovens for drying painted and enameled surfaces, leather, metals, papers and textiles.