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Several Extreme Adaptive Optics (XAO) systems dedicated to the detection andcharacterisation of the exoplanets are currently in operation for 8-10 meterclass telescopes. Coronagraphs are commonly used in these facilities to rejectthe diffracted light of an observed star and enable direct imaging andspectroscopy of its circumstellar environment. SHARK-NIR is a coronagraphiccamera that will be implemented at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). Afteran extensive simulation campaign, SHARK-NIR team selected a suite ofcoronagraphic techniques to be implemented in the instrument in order to fulfilthe scientific requirements. In summary, the Gaussian Lyot coronagraph is theoption to serve all those science cases requiring field-stabilization andmoderate contrast. Observations in pupil-stabilized mode to search forexoplanets can take advantage of three Shaped Pupil masks (SPC) and aFour-Quadrant Phase Mask (FQPM) coronagraph. The SPC are designed for highcontrast on a small field close to the star and are robust to image and pupiljitter. The FQPM allows to access the entire scientific FoV (18''x18'') anddelivers excellent performance in ideal conditions (high Strehl ratios), butperformance is still good, both close and further away from the star, even atlower Strehl and with moderate vibrations. After the procurement phase, thecoronagraphic masks were delivered to our labs and we started to test theirperformance on the optical bench and define the alignment procedures that willbe employed in the final integration of the instrument in our cleaning room. Inthis article, we describe the tests that we performed in the lab with SHARK-NIRcoronagraphs. We measured the contrast achievable with each technique invery-high Strehl conditions and defined the alignment-integration procedures.

XAO-assisted coronagraphy with SHARK NIR: from simulations to laboratory tests