The aim of the Project is the development of monolithic sensors of single-photons in quad-cell and array configurations, for the analysis of the optical wave-front acquired by means of telescopes in astrophysical applications. The purpose of the research is the real-time acquisition and the processing of the wave-front affected by aberrations caused by atmosphere, in order to correct the image by means of movable deformable mirrors, through Adaptive Optics.
The whole system is based on a microelectronic sensor chip and related to electronics for the acquisition, processing, and control. Apart from Adaptive Optics applications, the system will be employed in other astrophysical Fast Transient measurements (e.g. from Supernovae, currently used as “reference guide” for very long intersidereal distances), at the Catania’s Observatory site placed on the Etna, and for the acquisition of the optical counterparts from Gamma-ray explosions, at the robotic telescopes of ESO (European Southern Observatory) in Chile.
The research group has conceived, developed and realized:

• the monolithic array sensor with 60 single-photon detectors;
• the integrated circuits for the detection of the ignition of each pixel and its quenching;
• the electronic board for the control of the whole sensor and the photon counting from each pixel.

Currently, the system is being integrated within the telescopes of ESO, European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschildstr. 2, Garching (Germany), www.eso.org Dr. Domenico Bonaccini and INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di CATANIA, v. Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, www.ct.astro.it Prof. Bonanno Giovanni.