Calibration of the AXAF-HRC UV/ion shields at Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo G.S. Vaiana: I -instrumental setup

We describe the equipment and the experimental set-up at the XACT facility -- Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo G.S. Vaiana, employed in the calibration of the AXAF-HRC UV/ion shield. The facility has been expanded to improve its performance and to extend its bandpass to UV wavelengths. It now covers the 2550 - 1 angstrom wavelength range, is equipped with an advanced micropositioning system, has imaging capabilities in the wavelength range 1200 - 1 angstrom. The test chamber now opens to a class 1000 clean room which, along with the oil-free pumping system, makes cleanliness one of the characteristics of the facility© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.