OPTIMA
Short Description:
OPTIMA is a high-speed photoncounter which is used to measure (Gamma-ray) interesting objects, especially pulsars with high time resolution (10-6 s.) and high sensitivity.
Meanwhile it is used to observe also other rapid variable objects (e.g. Cataclysmic Variables or Gamma Ray Burst afterglows) from observatories world wide.
Project Type:
Instrument for ground-based teleskopes.
OPTIMA is mobile and can be used at a variety of telescopes.
MPE Contribution:
The instrument was developed and built entirely at MPE and is continually improved.
Status:
The first use of OPTIMA at a large telescope was 1999/2000 at the 3.5 m telescope at Calar Alto.
Since then the instrument has been used once or twice a year at telescopes world wide.
Currently a campaign is prepared for observations in summer 2013 at Skinakas Observatory, Crete.
Links:
High-Engergy Astrophysics (web pages of the MPE department involved in the project)
