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About the X-ray Test Facility PANTER
For the characterization and calibration of X-ray telescopes and detectors MPE
operates the test facility PANTER. This instrument was originally built
between 1977 and 1980 for the characterization of ROSAT and extended due to
the experimental requirements in the following years. Nevertheless, during
the last decades nearly all astronomical X-ray experiments or parts of them
have been tested at this facility.
The test history contends the following X-ray missions:
| rocket experiments | 1977 - 1987 |
| ROSAT | 1977 - 1990 |
| EXOSAT | 1980 - 1982 |
| MIR-HEXE | 1981 |
| AXAF (Chandra) | 1982 - 1996 |
| SAX | 1985 - 1994 |
| ROSAT-WFC | 1987 - 1990 |
| JET-X | 1990 - 1997 |
| SOHO/CDS | 1991 - 1994 |
| XMM-Newton | 1987 - 1999 |
| ABRIXAS | 1995 - 1999 |
| SWIFT-XRT | 2000, 2002 |
 pictures |
| ASTRO E2 | 2003 |
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An aerial photograph of the facility is shown in the enclosed figure. At one end of the vacuum
system an X-ray source is installed, the other end is given by the test chamber. The test chamber
has a diameter of 3.5 m and a length of 12 m to assimilate X-ray telescopes and small satellites.
The distance of 130 m between X-ray source and telescope was chosen to approximate the infinite
source distance of an astronomical X-ray object. By operation of several manipulators telescope
and detectors can be positioned with high precision.
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These measurement campaigns include work in international projects and also the MPE participation
at the scientific data output of the experiments.
The main task of the PANTER facility is the characterization of X-raytelescopes. This includes the
measurement of reflectivity and straylight of plane mirrors and single mirror shells, and the
characterization of the image qualities of complete telescopes. Also focal instruments (detectors,gratings,
filters) are measured at PANTER. Before launch the flight configuration is calibrated in an end-to-end
test. In addition thermal cycling and thermal-vacuum tests for the qualification of satellite parts are
performed in two smaller vacuum chambers, too.
The technical work during the last years was characterized by improvements of the facility and technical
developments, especially required for the XMM experiments. By the MPE personnel and the MPE-PANTER team
(Aschenbach,Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Hartner, Lechner, Oppitz, Predehl, Strüder,
Wölfl) the following work has been done:
- the absolute calibration of detectors
- the enlargement of the cleanroom
- the optimization of a X-ray monochromator
- the development of new software programmes
- the installation of a new computer network system
- the installation of new X-ray sources
- the implementation of a new control and archiving system for the facility
- the installation of new manipulators based on XMM requirements
- the installation of a monitor system in front of the mirror systems
- the installation of a monitor system (drift chamber) near the source
In addition, ESA was supported during the installation of two new X-ray channels at the CSL test facility.
The scientific program at the PANTER facility during the last two years was also determined by the XMM
experiments. Nevertheless,the measurement of other experiments (ABRIXAS, AXAF, Jet-X) has also been done.
In detail, the following tests have been performed at the PANTER facility in 1996 and 1997:
| AXAF | thermal balance test |
Bräuninger, Burkert, Kettenring, Predehl, Wölfl |
| Jet-X | end-to-end test |
Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Oppitz, Trümper, Wölfl |
| ABRIXAS | mirror calibration |
Aschenbach, Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Oppitz, Predehl, Trümper,
Wölfl |
| ABRIXAS | thermal balance test of QM mirror system |
Bräuninger, Kettenring, Predehl, Wölfl |
| EPIC-pn CCD | thermal balance test of focal instrumentation |
Bräuninger, Heuschmann, Reppin, EPIC team |
| XMM | calibration of mirror systems QM, FM1, FM2 |
Aschenbach, Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Hartner, Lechner, Oppitz, Strüder,
Trümper, Wölfl, ROSAT-PSPC-team |
| XMM | end-to-end tests of QM-mirror + RGS, FM2 mirror + RGS |
Aschenbach, Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Lechner, Oppitz, Strüder,
Trümper, Wölfl, ROSAT-PSPC team |
| XMM | end-to-end tests of QM-mirror + EPIC-MOS CCD |
Aschenbach, Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Lechner, Oppitz, Strüder,
Trümper, Wölfl, ROSAT-PSPC team |
| XMM | end-to-end tests of QM-mirror + EPIC-pn CCD |
Aschenbach, Bräuninger, Burkert, Döhring, Egger, Elender, Lechner, Oppitz, Strüder,
Trümper, Wölfl, ROSAT-PSPC team |
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Last update: 2010-05-20 durch
H. Steinle
Contact person:
M. Freyberg
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