The invention relates to an infrared radiator with a heating element
containing carbon fibers disposed in a quartz glass tube, with its ends
connected to contact elements running through the wall of the quartz
glass tube. The known radiators are improved by the fact that the heating
element is spaced away from the wall of the quartz glass tube and it is
centered on the axis of the quartz glass tube by means of spacers. The
invention furthermore relates to a method by which the infrared radiator
is operated at heating element temperatures greater than 1000.degree. C.