While time resolved astronomical observations are not new, the extension of such studies to sub-second time resolution
is and has resulted in the opening of a new observational frontier, High Time Resolution Astronomy (HTRA). HTRA
studies are well suited to objects like compact binary stars (CVs and X-ray binaries) and pulsars, while asteroseismology
of pulsating stars, occultations, transits and the study of transients, will all benefit from such HTRA studies.
HTRA has been a SALT science driver from the outset and the first-light instruments, namely the UV-VIS imager,
SALTICAM, and the multi-purpose Robert Stobie Spectrograph (RSS), both have high time resolution modes. These are
described, together with some observational examples. We also discuss the commissioning observations with the photon
counting Berkeley Visible Image Tube camera (BVIT) on SALT. Finally we describe the software tools, developed in
Python, to reduce SALT time resolved observations.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.