Absolute timing of the Crab Pulsar at optical wavelengths with STJs

Oosterbroek, T.; de Bruijne, J. H. J.; Martin, D.; Verhoeve, P.; Perryman, M. A. C.; Erd, C.; Schulz, R.

Absolute timing of the Crab Pulsar at optical wavelengths with STJs

Authors

Description

We have observed the Crab Pulsar in the optical with S-Cam, an instrument based on Superconducting Tunneling Junctions (STJs) with $μ$s time resolution. Our aim was to study the delay between the radio and optical pulse. The Crab Pulsar was observed three times over a time span of almost 7 years, on two different locations, using three different versions of the instrument, and using two different GPS units. We consistently find that the optical peak leads the radio peak by 49$\pm$90, 254$\pm$170, and 291$\pm$100 $μ$s. On assumption of a constant optical lead, the weighted-average value is $\sim$170 $μ$s, or when rejecting (based on a perhaps questionable radio ephemeris) the first measurement, 273$\pm$100 $μ$s.
5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics