Yves Rocard
Encyclopedia
Yves-André Rocard was a French
physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb for France.
After obtaining a double doctorate in mathematics (1927) and physics (1928) he was awarded the professorship in electronic physics at the École normale supérieure
in Paris.
As a member of a Resistance group during the Second World War he flew to the UK in a small plane as part of a dangerous mission, and was able to provide British intelligence with invaluable information. There he met up with Charles de Gaulle
who named him Director of Research in the Forces navales françaises libres (the Navy of Free France). He became particularly interested in the detection of solar
radio emissions by British Radar
, which were causing military problems by jamming detection during periods of high emission, and was able to create a new radio navigational beam station.
As research director Rocard followed the French troops entering Germany. He succeeded in finding German specialists, e.g. in infrared
and wireless Pathfinding
and engaged them to serve in France. As for the group of nuclear physicists around Werner Heisenberg
and Otto Hahn
he did not succeed because Samuel Abraham Goudsmit
arrived ar Hechingen earlier. At Freiburg
(then also French zone) Rocard protected the solar observatory and founded a French navy-owned ionospheric
prediction service with Karl Rawer
as scientific director.
Returned to France after the war Rocard he took up his function as head of the physics department at the ENS. Whilst there he founded a radio observatory
, having obtained two German "Wurzburg" Radar mirrors from the war.
From 1947 he became scientific advisor to the French military on the subject of atomic energy, eventually taking over from Frédéric Joliot-Curie
after his dismissal. In 1951, he became scientific head of the programme that eventually led to the development of nuclear arms, and is often known as the father of the French A-Bomb and H-bomb.
Later in his career he studied subjects ranging from semiconductors to seismology
. Eventually his professional reputation became tarnished by his increased research in less conventional subjects such as biomagnetism
, dowsing
and UFOs.
He was awarded the British CBE
(1946), and the French Legion of Honour and Order of Merit
.
He is the father of Michel Rocard
, prime minister of France between 1988 and 1991.
On his death in 1992, Yves Rocard was interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb for France.
After obtaining a double doctorate in mathematics (1927) and physics (1928) he was awarded the professorship in electronic physics at the École normale supérieure
École normale supérieure
An école normale supérieure or ENS is a type of publicly funded higher education in France. A portion of the student body who are French civil servants are called Normaliens....
in Paris.
As a member of a Resistance group during the Second World War he flew to the UK in a small plane as part of a dangerous mission, and was able to provide British intelligence with invaluable information. There he met up with Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
who named him Director of Research in the Forces navales françaises libres (the Navy of Free France). He became particularly interested in the detection of solar
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
radio emissions by British Radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, which were causing military problems by jamming detection during periods of high emission, and was able to create a new radio navigational beam station.
As research director Rocard followed the French troops entering Germany. He succeeded in finding German specialists, e.g. in infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
and wireless Pathfinding
Pathfinding
Pathfinding generally refers to the plotting, by a computer application, of the shortest route between two points. It is a more practical variant on solving mazes...
and engaged them to serve in France. As for the group of nuclear physicists around Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg
Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory...
and Otto Hahn
Otto Hahn
Otto Hahn FRS was a German chemist and Nobel laureate, a pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry. He is regarded as "the father of nuclear chemistry". Hahn was a courageous opposer of Jewish persecution by the Nazis and after World War II he became a passionate campaigner...
he did not succeed because Samuel Abraham Goudsmit
Samuel Abraham Goudsmit
Samuel Abraham Goudsmit was a Dutch-American physicist famous for jointly proposing the concept of electron spin with George Eugene Uhlenbeck in 1925.-Biography:...
arrived ar Hechingen earlier. At Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
(then also French zone) Rocard protected the solar observatory and founded a French navy-owned ionospheric
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
prediction service with Karl Rawer
Karl Rawer
Karl Rawer is a German specialist in radio wave propagation and the ionosphere who developed the analytical code to determine suitable frequency ranges for short wave communication by which the German forces successfully built-up their long distance communications during World War II.After studies...
as scientific director.
Returned to France after the war Rocard he took up his function as head of the physics department at the ENS. Whilst there he founded a radio observatory
Radio telescope
A radio telescope is a form of directional radio antenna used in radio astronomy. The same types of antennas are also used in tracking and collecting data from satellites and space probes...
, having obtained two German "Wurzburg" Radar mirrors from the war.
From 1947 he became scientific advisor to the French military on the subject of atomic energy, eventually taking over from Frédéric Joliot-Curie
Frédéric Joliot-Curie
Jean Frédéric Joliot-Curie , born Jean Frédéric Joliot, was a French physicist and Nobel laureate.-Early years:...
after his dismissal. In 1951, he became scientific head of the programme that eventually led to the development of nuclear arms, and is often known as the father of the French A-Bomb and H-bomb.
Later in his career he studied subjects ranging from semiconductors to seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
. Eventually his professional reputation became tarnished by his increased research in less conventional subjects such as biomagnetism
Biomagnetism
Biomagnetism is the phenomenon of magnetic fields produced by living organisms; it is a subset of bioelectromagnetism. The study of the biological effects of magnetic fields is magnetobiology...
, dowsing
Dowsing
Dowsing is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials, as well as so-called currents of earth radiation , without the use of scientific apparatus...
and UFOs.
He was awarded the British CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1946), and the French Legion of Honour and Order of Merit
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
.
He is the father of Michel Rocard
Michel Rocard
Michel Rocard is a French politician, member of the Socialist Party . He served as Prime Minister under François Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991, during which he created the Revenu minimum d'insertion , a social minimum welfare program for indigents, and led the Matignon Accords regarding the status...
, prime minister of France between 1988 and 1991.
On his death in 1992, Yves Rocard was interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris.
Works
- Cabannes (Jean) - La diffusion moléculaire de la lumière - in participation with Yves Rocard, PUF, 1931.
- L'hydrodynamique et la théorie cinétique des gaz. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1932.
- Diffusion de la lumière et visibilité, projecteurs, feux, instruments d'observation. Paris, 1935.
- Propagation et absorption du son. Paris: Hermann, 1935.
- La stabilité de route des locomotives. Paris: Hermann, 1935.
- Les phénomènes d'auto-oscillation dans les installations hydrauliques. Paris: Hermann, 1937.
- Les Sourciers (Que sais-je, n° 1939, ISBN 2-13-043539-4).
- Théorie des oscillateurs. Paris, 1941.
- Dynamique générale des vibrations. Paris: Masson, 1951.
- L'instabilité en mécanique; automobiles, avions, ponts suspendus. Paris: Masson, 1954.
- Le signal du sourcier (Dunod 1962).
- Electricité. Paris: Masson, 1966.
- Thermodynamique. Paris: Masson, 1967
- Mémoires sans concessions. Paris: Grasset, 1988.
- La science et les sourciers; baguettes, pendules, biomagnétisme. Paris: (Dunod 1989, ISBN 2-10-002996-7)