Progress Toward Multi-Channel Intensity Interferometry with the Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer

          @misc{ scivideos_PIRSA:24100094,
            doi = {10.48660/24100094},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/24100094},
            author = {Horch, Elliott},
            keywords = {Cosmology},
            language = {en},
            title = {Progress Toward Multi-Channel Intensity Interferometry with the Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics},
            year = {2024},
            month = {oct},
            note = {PIRSA:24100094 see, \url{https://scivideos.org/pirsa/24100094}}
          }
          

Abstract

The renaissance in stellar intensity interferometry has resulted in two main types of telescope arrays: those using large "light bucket" telescopes and photomultiplier tubes, such as CTA, VERITAS, MAGIC, and others, and those that instead use smaller, more traditional astronomical telescopes with high-grade optics, such as the systems at the Cote d'Azur and Asiago Observatories. To detect and timestamp photons, these latter systems have used single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors. This talk will focus on the latter type of instrument, which is also being pursued at Southern Connecticut State University. The current status of our instrument, the Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer (SCSI), will be reviewed, and prospects for improved sensitivity will be discussed. Principal among these is the use of SPAD arrays, which are increasingly available, to record different wavelengths simultaneously. If a sufficient number of channels can be employed, this type of intensity interferometer can reach much fainter magnitudes than currently possible. The talk will also briefly discuss work toward wireless intensity interferometry with SCSI, which will make larger baselines easier to set up and use, and ideas for quantum-assisted intensity interferometry that might be employed with SCSI in the future.