Design and mathematical modelling of the space-borne far-infrared Fourier transform spectrometer for REFIR experiment

A far infrared Fourier spectrometer named REFIR (Radiation explorer in the far infrared) has been designed for space-borne observations of the atmospheric radiance in the broad spectral range 100-1000 cm(-1). The requirements are discussed and the adopted instrumental configuration is presented. The variability of the source and the narrow frequency bandwidth of the detectors as well as some novel features of the selected configuration require some dedicated analysis for the establishment of the instrument performances which are herewith described. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.