MicroLux: high-precision timing of high-speed photometric observations

TL;DR

MicroLux is a GPS-based timing system integrated with AstraLux that enables microsecond-accurate timestamping of high-speed CCD exposures, demonstrated through observations of the Crab pulsar's optical pulse profile.

Contribution

We developed MicroLux, a novel high-precision timing add-on for high-speed photometric cameras, achieving microsecond accuracy synchronized with UTC.

Findings

Successful high-speed observations of the Crab pulsar

Reconstructed the pulsar's optical pulse profile with microsecond precision

Demonstrated system's capability for high-accuracy timing in astrophysical observations

Abstract

MicroLux is a GPS-based high precision and high speed timing add-on to the Calar Alto Lucky Imaging camera AstraLux. It allows timestamping of individual CCD exposures at frame rates of more than 1 kHz with an accuracy better than one microsecond with respect to the UTC timeframe. The system was successfully used for high speed observations of the optical pulse profile of the Crab pulsar in January and November 2007. I present the technical design concept of MicroLux as well as first results from these observations, in particular the reconstructed pulse profile of the pulsar.