In the late 1930s August Pfund used a triple-pass cell like the one shown above for atmospheric study. The cell, which became known as the Pfund cell, is constructed using two identical spherical mirrors, each having a hole carefully machined into its center. The separation distance between the mirrors is equal to the mirror focal length. A source enters from a hole in either mirror, is redirected twice at two reflection points, and then exits the cell through the other mirror on the third pass. The Pfund cell was one of the earliest examples of this type of spectroscopic technique and is noted for having used multiple passes.