Care and cleaning of the Starfire Optical Range's 3.5-meter primary mirror

摘要

The Starfire Optical Range (SOR) 3.5 Meter primary mirror was installed in 1993 and saw first light in February of 1994. The mirror is a monolithic faceplate backed by a honeycomb structure and coated with bare aluminum oxide. Since the mirror's installation, SOR technicians have adhered to a strict cleaning and care regimen that has proven to be very effective in preserving the optical quality of the coating. This presentation describes the care procedures used by the SOR and presents reflectivity/scatter measurements taken over the life of the coating.