Time-domain optical astronomy with photon counting technique

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H01940
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 16010:Astronomy-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamori Takeshi 山形大学, 理学部, 教授 (30531876)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 時間領域天文学 / フォトンカウンティング / 中性子星 / 半導体センサ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a high-speed imaging system based on the optical photon counting method using our developed Geiger avalanche photodiode array. 16-pixel sensor signals are processed by FPGA, and a system to acquire photon arrival times with a time resolution of 100 ns is composed. A 64-pixel sensor has also been newly developed, which provides a larger field of view and more efficient observation. These systems were installed on the Kanata Telescope at Hiroshima University, and the Crab pulsar was observed with the radio telescope. In addition, photometry experiments were conducted to evaluate the observational performance of the system for optical transients and high-speed imaging performance was demonstrated.

Free Research Field

高エネルギー宇宙物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

半導体センサを用いた、貸天体観測用の超高速撮像カメラ技術が確立した。信号処理系の小型化によって移植性が向上したため、搭載できる望遠鏡の候補が広がり、今後の活用が期待される。これまで実現できなかった、ミリ秒以下の時間分解能を実現できたため、ごく短時間の高度変動を引き起こす、局所的な天体環境の変動にたいするプローブを得た。また、電波望遠鏡と光学望遠鏡との連携した観測ネットワークの基盤を形成できた。