Spid, A High Spectral Resolution Diffraction Limited Camera

SPID aims at offering a high spectral resolution in both short-exposure (speckle imaging) and long-exposure (adaptive optics with partial compensation) modes. It offers an adjustable spectral resolution (from 60 up to 3000) in the range 400-750 nm. For differential observation of astronomical objects, SPID gives images in two spectral bandwidths at the same time. The width and the central wavelength of each bandwidth can be chosen independently. A high image quality is achieved thanks to a new design derived from a Courtes' monochromator. SPID also includes a wavefront sensor for post-compensation processing.A short-exposure mode allows us to achieve diffraction limited images but with a low signal-to-noise ratio. Depending on the object brightness and on the seeing quality, adaptive optics will allow us to improve significantly the signal-to-noise ratio and sometimes to observe a diffraction limited core in long-exposure mode. Depending on the scientific goal, the availability of the two modes will drive the best choice.The current status of SPID is presented together with first results obtained at CFHT in the short-exposure mode.