If diamonds are very good thermal conductors, transparent, but the cut of the diamond concentrates light (and its energy?), would a diamond laying in the sun get hot - and if so (or not) would an infrared camera be a decent way to find a lost diamond laying in the grass? Simply put, would a 2 carat diamond create a "hot" or "cold" spot in the display of an FLIR camera?

 

FYI - I probably won't understand the reasoning behind why, so don't feel obligated to write a page and a half of explanation why - a yes or no with a brief description would be cool.

Edited September 3, 201015 yr by Hmmmmm

Very simple model: If the diamond absorbs none of the light, its temperature will not increase at all due to the radiation passing through it. It will, however, warm up from conduction and because it's not perfectly transparent. So this will depend on the temperature difference you start with; if it's already at ambient temperature, it will not heat or cool and will not be distinguishable from the IR signature.