Hard X-ray (>15 keV) facility for calibration of space astronomy experiments

Hard X-ray (>15 keV) experiments for space astronomy require a detailed energy calibration in order to determine their true response matrix. To this end, an X-ray facility is built based on the use of a very stable X-ray generator plus an X-ray goniometer for crystal diffraction, that can provide collimated and monochromatic photons with energies in the range from about 15 keV to about 140 keV. A description is presented of the facility and its performance. The facility is used to test samples of hard X-ray mirrors for space astronomy, and it is being equipped to calibrate the high-energy experiment PDS on board the X-ray astronomy satellite SAX.<>