Characterization of a "hardened" ultrastable UV linear variable filter and recent results on the radiometric stability of narrow band interference filters subjected to temperature/humidity, thermal/vacuum and ionizing radiation environments

A series of in-band and out-of-band transmittance measurements of filters covering the wavelength range from 317 to 1019 nm and a linear variable filter for the 300 to 400 nm range have been made. The bandpass filters and the linear variable were fabricated using the ion-assisted-deposition or similar processes. The radiometric stability of the central wavelength, bandpass (FWHM), and peak transmittances were measured before and after exposures to combined high temperature and humidity, a thermal vacuum cycle, an ionizing particle radiation environment, flight on the Space Shuttle and at two temperature ranges. Representative radiative signal-to-noise ratios are given for solar irradiance observations with a silicon photodiode detector.