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Apparatus to search for optical flashes of astronomical origin

Explore the gamma ray bursts (GRB) phenomenon, the hottest topic in astronomy, with the Pi of the Sky apparatus. Search for optical flashes of astronomical origin using state-of-the-art technology inspired by particle physics experiments. Monitor the entire sky in real-time for short gamma ray pulses brighter than the rest of the sky, potentially from cataclysms like black hole collisions or star collapses. The project aims to revolutionize the study of GRBs and uncover new physics in the universe.

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Apparatus to search for optical flashes of astronomical origin

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  1.  of the sky Apparatus to search for optical flashes of astronomical origin Grzegorz Wrochna, Lech Mankiewicz, Rafał Sałański

  2. Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) • Short (0.1-100s) pulses of gamma rays from point-like sources in the sky • Brighter than whole rest of the sky • Extragallactic origin • The greatest catalysms ever observed

  3. GRB origin • Hotest topic in astronomy • Hypothesis: • collision of black holes • collision of neutron stars • collapse of rotating star • quark star formation or collapse new physics?

  4. Optical counterparts of GRBs • ~100 GRB/year discoverd by satellites • Only <30 afterglows observed by telescopes on Earth: • low precision of satellite information • small field and high inercy of telescopes

  5. The only optical flash of GRB observed so far

  6. ROTSE with =10 cm

  7. Optical flashes • Need for search • GRB study • exists many undocumented reports • „new window” of astronomy

  8. „ of the sky” project • Inspired by particle physics experiments • Full sky monitoring • Large data flow • Real time analysis, on-line data reduction, multi-level trigger

  9. Technical data • Lenses: f=50mm, f/2 • pixel size ~15m • pixel coverage: 1 arc min • CCD coverage: 35 x 35 • 16 CCD covers ~full hemisphere down to ~20 above horizon

  10. Example CCD sensor CCD 442A by Fairchild Imaging

  11. Data aquisition • 16 CCD cameras,each 2048x2048 pixels • 14 bit ADC converter • 16 * 4M * 2 bytes = 128 MB • transfer > 25 MB/s

  12. Interface options • IEEE 1394 Firewire (50 MB/s) • USB 2.0 (60 MB/s) • direct LVDS connectionto a dedicated PCI card

  13. Simple model

  14. Data processing • Image reading • Comparison of images • Recognition of changes • Data storage

  15. Software prototyping • Mechanical steering • CCD steering • Data processing • System reporting Computers’function:

  16. Prototyping • Program steering via internet • Notification via internet • Backup function System function:

  17. Site • Polish observatory at Las Campanas, Chile • high altitude, clean atmosphere, no clouds • power, ethernet, permament human supervision

  18. Plans • Algorithms development with existing ASAS device • Software prototyping • Single camera prototype - fall 2002

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