THESIS
2023
1 online resource (xxiii, 242 pages) : illustrations (some color)
Abstract
Traditional optical astronomy is limited to sub-second timescales due to the readout
speed of detectors and readout noise limitations to sensitivity in short exposures [1]. Our
Ultra-Fast Astronomy (UFA) program aims to survey the optical night sky at such rarely
explored timescales via developing Ultra-Fast photon detectors [2].
There exist many interesting known or proposed astrophysical events in the sub-second
domain. Some of them are transient events, which are energetic events in the universe
that commonly originate from compact objects and their related extreme environments
[3]. Some celestial objects may also exhibit ultra-fast variability due to their emission
nature. With Ultra-Fast photon detectors, we may also investigate the quantum optics
effects on celestial objects or en...[
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Traditional optical astronomy is limited to sub-second timescales due to the readout
speed of detectors and readout noise limitations to sensitivity in short exposures [1]. Our
Ultra-Fast Astronomy (UFA) program aims to survey the optical night sky at such rarely
explored timescales via developing Ultra-Fast photon detectors [2].
There exist many interesting known or proposed astrophysical events in the sub-second
domain. Some of them are transient events, which are energetic events in the universe
that commonly originate from compact objects and their related extreme environments
[3]. Some celestial objects may also exhibit ultra-fast variability due to their emission
nature. With Ultra-Fast photon detectors, we may also investigate the quantum optics
effects on celestial objects or enhance existing astronomical observations via improved
temporal resolution.
In this research, we have developed the Single-Photon Imager for Nanosecond Astrophysics
(SPINA) system, which utilizes a position-sensitive silicon photomultiplier (PS-SiPM)
detector for single-photon imaging. We designed and constructed the readout
electronics, data preprocessing algorithms, readout software, and mechanical structure
for the SPINA system and readied it for on-sky testing. The initial on-sky testing took
place in July 2022, and despite unfavourable weather conditions, we captured photons
from multiple stars to calibrate our SPINA system. During on-sky testing, we successfully
observed the atmospheric scintillation effect on stellar profiles and photon flux at
millisecond and microsecond timescales, demonstrating the SPINA system’s capability for
ultra-fast astronomical observations. Additionally, we propose enhancements and future
experiments with the SPINA system and its successors.
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