Speaker
Description
The ASTRI Stellar Intensity Interferometry Instrument (SI3) is currently being integrated on the ASTRI Mini-Array at the Teide Observatory (Tenerife, Spain). In parallel with the instrument deployment, we are developing the data analysis framework and simulation tools required to exploit the unique capabilities of SI3 and to support the commissioning phase. We present the analysis pipeline specifically designed for the photon-counting approach of SI3, capable of handling the multi-telescope high data rates produced by the array and extracting second-order correlation measurements with sub-nanosecond time resolution. Ongoing developments aiming at accelerating the computation will be shortly illustrated. We will also show the simulation framework developed to reproduce realistic observing conditions, including instrumental effects, photon statistics, and array geometry. Simulations are used to assess performance and optimize observing strategies ahead of first light. Preliminary results indicate that stars with angular diameters below 500–600 μas will be measurable down to approximately V ≃ 3. Exploiting the simultaneous baselines provided by the entire array, angular diameter measurements with accuracies better than 100 μas are achievable for some targets with about 20 hours of integration time.
