Calibration of space instrumentation with synchrotron radiation

Abstract

For many years, synchrotron radiation as emitted from electron storage rings has been established as a versatile tool for photon metrology in the spectral range from ultraviolet radiation to X-rays. In particular, various radiometric techniques have been developed and applied for the calibration of space instrumentation. In this context, the present paper gives an overview of the measurement capabilities of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt for the calibration of radiation sources, detectors, spectrometers, and optical components at Berlin’s electron storage ring for synchrotron radiation, BESSY II. Moreover, recent examples for the calibration of space instrumentation are discussed.