Characterization techniques and qualification tests of glass and optical coatings for space applications

Optical coatings and materials need to be qualified against space environmental agents, such as protons, helium ions and electrons. The induced damage effects are studied in dependence on ion species, energy, flux and fluence. Results show that damages can be dramatically dependent not only by fluence, but also by ions energy, so that qualification should take this factor into account. The significance of results obtained by using gamma-rays in place of ions irradiation to qualify components is briefly discussed. A systematic experimental plan for an extensively study of the irradiation effects induced in a large number of different sample coatings and materials is presented.