Towards high resolution imaging by speckle interferometry

Abstract It is shown how it should be possible, under arbitrary seeing conditions, to image star clusters, whose apparent angular extension is less than the seeing disc, by combining Labeyrie's original speckle interferometry and the extension of it due to Lynds, Worden and Harvey together with Patterson analysis as developed by X-ray crystallographers. An encouraging simulation in an optical laboratory is reported. We discuss a further experimental result which suggest that our idea could be used with an array of telescopes whose focal fields are combined coherently.