Yves Rocard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yves Rocard
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|---|---|
| Born |
Yves-André Rocard
22 May 1903 |
| Died | 16 March 1992 (aged 88) 5th arrondissement of Paris, France
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| Education | Lycée Louis-le-Grand |
| Alma mater | École normale supérieure University of Paris |
| Known for | Atomic bomb |
| Children | Michel Rocard |
| Awards | Holweck Medal (1948) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | École Normale Supérieure |
| Thesis | L'hydrodynamique et la théorie cinétique des gaz |
Yves-André Rocard (born May 22, 1903 – died March 16, 1992) was a French scientist. He was a physicist who played a big role in helping France develop its atomic bomb.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Yves Rocard was born in a town called Vannes in France. He was a very smart student. He earned two special degrees, called doctorates, one in mathematics in 1927 and another in physics in 1928.
After finishing his studies, he became a professor. He taught electronic physics at a famous school in Paris called the École normale supérieure.
Helping During World War II
During the Second World War, Yves Rocard joined a secret group called the Resistance. This group worked against the enemy. He took part in a very risky mission. He flew a small plane to the UK (United Kingdom).
There, he gave important information to British intelligence. He also met Charles de Gaulle, a famous French leader. De Gaulle made Rocard the Director of Research for the French Navy.
Rocard became very interested in how the Sun's radio signals could affect military Radar. Sometimes, these signals would "jam" or block the radar. He worked to create a new radio navigation system to help with this problem.
After the War
After the war ended, Rocard went with French troops into Germany. He found German scientists who were experts in areas like infrared technology. He convinced them to work for France.
He also protected a special solar observatory in Freiburg. He started a new service there. This service helped predict how the ionosphere (a part of Earth's atmosphere) would affect radio signals.
When he returned to France, Rocard went back to his job. He led the physics department at the École normale supérieure. He even started a radio observatory using old German radar mirrors from the war.
The Atomic Bomb Project
From 1947, Yves Rocard became a science advisor to the French military. He advised them on atomic energy. Later, he took over from another scientist, Frédéric Joliot-Curie.
In 1951, Rocard became the main scientific leader of France's nuclear weapons program. Because of his important work, many people call him the "father" of the French A-Bomb and H-bomb.
Later Research and Family
Later in his career, Rocard studied many different topics. These included semiconductors (materials used in electronics) and seismology (the study of earthquakes).
He also explored some less common subjects. These included biomagnetism (how living things are affected by magnetic fields), dowsing (finding water or minerals with a rod), and UFOs.
Yves Rocard was the father of Michel Rocard. His son later became the Prime Minister of France from 1988 to 1991.
Yves Rocard passed away in Paris in 1992. He was buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery.
Awards and Honors
Yves Rocard received several important awards for his work.
- He was given the British CBE in 1946.
- He also received the French Legion of Honour.
- He was awarded the French National Order of Merit.
Works
Yves Rocard wrote many scientific books and papers during his career. Some of his works include:
- L'hydrodynamique et la théorie cinétique des gaz (1932)
- Théorie des oscillateurs (1941)
- Dynamique générale des vibrations (1951)
- Le signal du sourcier (1962)
- Mémoires sans concessions (1988)
