Aqueye and iqueye, very-high-time-resolution photon-counting photometers

Abstract

We describe very high-time-resolution photometers capable of tagging the arrival time of each photon with a resolution and accuracy of few hundred picoseconds, for hours of continuous acquisition, and with a dynamic range of more than 6 orders of magnitude. The final goal is the conceptual definition of a "quantum" photometer for the E-ELT, capable of detecting and measuring second-order correlation effects in photon streams from celestial sources. Two prototype units have been built and operated, one for the Asiago 1.8-m telescope (AquEYE) and one for the 3.5-m NTT (IquEYE). Here we will present results obtained by IquEYE on the Crab Nebula pulsar in simultaneous radio observations with Jodrell Bank in December 2009