Articles | Volume 9, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2381-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2381-2016
Research article
 | 
31 May 2016
Research article |  | 31 May 2016

Rugged optical mirrors for Fourier transform spectrometers operated in harsh environments

Dietrich G. Feist, Sabrina G. Arnold, Frank Hase, and Dirk Ponge

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Short summary
Optical equipment is usually not made for harsh environments. At our atmospheric observation site on Ascension Island, commercially available optical mirrors were destroyed within weeks after being installed outside. To be able to continue our observations, we had to develop rugged optical mirrors that are able to sustain sea salt spray, volcanic dust, and regular cleaning without loosing their reflectivity and without adverse effects on the retrieval quality.