The Narrabri Stellar Intensity Interferometer

Speaker: Stephanie Rossini-Bryson is a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney researching the next generation of interferometers

This presentation was delivered at the first HAAC seminar, 19 November 2025.

Link to the 16 minute YouTube recording: https://youtu.be/pRW9R00PyD8

Abstract: In the 1960s, on a dusty plain near Narrabri in northern New South Wales, Australia became home to one of the most ambitious astronomy experiments of its time: the Narrabri Stellar Intensity Interferometer. Built by Robert Hanbury Brown and Richard Twiss, this instrument determined the angular diameters of hot main-sequence stars, which helped refine our understanding of stellar lives and temperatures. But beyond its astronomical findings, the story of the Narrabri interferometer is one of persistence and creativity of scientists building world-leading instruments in the Australian bush. It marked a turning point in physics, sparking debates about the nature of light and laying the groundwork for the field of quantum optics. This presentation revisits the creation, achievements, and lasting influence of the Narrabri Stellar Intensity Interferometer. 

Bio: Stephanie Rossini-Bryson is a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney researching the next generation of interferometers, specifically the GLINT instrument at the Subaru telescope in Hawai’i. Alongside her research, she works at Sydney Observatory, blending her passion for astronomy and public outreach to make the universe accessible to everyone.