PURPOSE: To show that a pulsar does not appear to flash when observed through a telescope.
DESCRIPTION: The light from a flourescent lamp is aimed at a photodiode, as shown in the photo below. The output of the photodiode is displayed on the oscilloscope, as shown in the above photo. The light is measured by the oscilloscope to flash at a rate of 8 msec, or 125 Hz. To the eye it does not appear to flash at all.
EQUIPMENT: Lamp, photodiode, oscilloscope as photographed.
SETUP NOTES: Five minutes to get the stuff and adjust the timebase on the scope.
Updated by Jerry Zani on 4/11/2000