Speckle interferometry. Data acquisition and control for the SPID instrument

SPID (SPeckle Imaging by Deconvolution) is a new speckle camera currently under construction at CRAL-Observatoire de Lyon (FRANCE). Its high spectral resolution and high image restoration capabilities open new astrophysical programs. The instrument SPID is composed of four main optical modules which are fully automated and computer controlled by a software written in Tcl/Tk/Tix and C. This software provides an intelligent assistance to the user by choosing observational parameters as a function of atmospheric parameters, computed in real time, and the desired restored image quality. Data acquisition is made by a photon-counting detector (CP40). A VME-based computer under OS9 controls the detector and stocks the data. The intelligent system runs under Linux on a PC. A slave PC under DOS commands the motors. These 3 computers communicate through an Ethernet network. SPID can be considered as a precursor for VLTls (Very Large Telescope, four 8-meter telescopes currently built in Chile by European Southern Observatory) very high spatial resolution camera.