EPIC(XMM) instrument calibration. I. Synchrotron test bed

A testing system has been developed at the Institut d'astrophysique spatial e with the Orsay synchrotron facility, in order to perform a full calibrati on of the EPIC spectro-imaging instrument, which is due to be launched on b oard the XMM satellite the 21st of January 2000. Dealing with one of the mo st advanced devices among X-rays detectors using CCD technology, the challe nge has been to find the more accurate techniques (cryogenics, high energy optics...) and real-time operating systems (multitask computer environment) to achieve our calibration purposes. (C) Academie des sciences/Elsevier, P aris.