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

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.