Yves Rocard

Yves-André Rocard (born Vannes May 22 1903; died Paris March 16 1992) 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 toEngland in a small plane as part of a dangerous mission, and was able to provide Britishintelligence with invaluable information. There he met up with Charles de Gaulle whonamed 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 English 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.

After the war, he returned to France and became 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.

Works

• 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.
• Théorie des oscillateurs. Paris, 1941.
• Dynamique générale des vibrations. Paris: Masson, 1951.
• Le signal du sourcier (Dunod 1962).
• Electricité. Paris: Masson, 1966.
• Thermodynamique. Paris: Masson, 1967
• L'instabilité en mécanique; automobiles, avions, ponts suspendus. Paris: Masson, 1954.
• Mémoires sans concessions. Paris: Grasset, 1988.
• La science et les sourciers; baguettes, pendules, biomagnétisme. Paris: (Dunod 1989, ISBN 2100029967)
• La stabilité de route des locomotives, with Julien, M. Paris: Hermann, 1935.
• Les Sourciers (Que sais-je, n° 1939, ISBN 2130435394).
• Cabannes (Jean) - La diffusion moléculaire de la lumière - in participation with Yves Rocard, PUF, 1931.
• Babinet, Jacques - French physicist. (1794-1872) -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02178b.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: B (3)

• Fourier - Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) - Baron, mathematical physicist, French Revolution, a teacher, a secret policeman, a political prisoner, governor of Egypt, The Analytic Theory of Heat -- http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/~davidk/fourier.htm Science: Math: History: People (1)

• Maignan, Emmanuel - French physicist and theologian; b. at Toulouse, 17 July, 1601; d. at Toulouse, 29 October, 1676. -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09538b.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: M (2)

• Marie Curie: Polish-French Chemist and Physicist - Article written especially for students tells about Curie's early life, her marriage to French scientist Pierre Curie, her work, and its impact on the world of science. -- http://www.gale.com/free_resources/whm/bio/curie_m.htm Kids and Teens: School Time: Science: Scientists: Curie, Marie (1)

• Encarta: Curie, Pierre - Tells about the French physicist best known for the work on radioactivity that he did with his wife, Marie. -- http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761555255/Curie_Pierre.html Kids and Teens: School Time: Science: Scientists: Curie, Pierre (1)

• Hautefeuille, Jean de - French physicist, b. at Orléans, 20 March, 1647; d. there, 18 October, 1724. -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07151b.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: H (1)

• Jacquier, François - French mathematician and physicist, born at Vitry-le-Francois, 7 June, 1711; died at Rome, 3 July, 1788. -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08266b.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: J (1)

• Regnault, Henri Victor - French chemist and physicist. (1810-1878) -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12722a.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: R (1)

• Becquerel, Antoine-César - French physicist, b. at Chatillon-sur-Loing (Loiret), 7 March, 1788; d. at Paris, 18 January, 1878. -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02382c.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: B (3)

• Mariotte, Edme - French physicist, b. at Dijon, France, about 1620; d. at Paris, 12 May, 1684. -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09671a.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: M (2)

• Branly, Edouard - Nineteenth century French physicist. -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02740a.htm Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Catholicism: Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia: B (3)