Optical STJ Observations of the Crab Pulsar
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We report the first observations of an astronomical object using a superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) device, a pixel detector with intrinsic energy resolution in the optical wavelength range. The Crab pulsar was observed using a 6 times 6 array of Tantalum STJs at the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope on La Palma. Each array element provides photon counting capability recording up to ~ 10^3 photons per pix per s with an arrival time accuracy of about 5 microsecond, and providing a wavelength resolution of about 100 nm. We derive a photometrically resolved light curve which, however, shows no significant colour index variations with pulsar phase.
Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Letters)
Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Letters)