Astro2020 White Paper State of the Profession: Intensity Interferometry

Abstract: Recent advances in telescope design, photodetector efficiency, and high-speed electronic data recording and synchronization have created the observational capability to achieve unprecedented angular resolution for several thousand bright (m< 6) and hot (O/B/A) stars by means of a modern implementation of Stellar Intensity Interferometry (SII). This technology, when deployed on future arrays of large diameter optical telescopes, has the ability to image astrophysical objects with an angular resolution better than 40 {\mu} arc-sec. This paper describes validation tests of the SII technique in the laboratory using various optical sensors and correlators, and SII measurements on nearby stars that have recently been completed as a technology demonstrator. The paper describes ongoing and future developments that will advance the impact and instrumental resolution of SII during the upcoming decade.