RAYMOND MICHARD AND HIS SOLAR PHYSICS GROUP AT PARIS-MEUDON OBSERVATORY

Abstract

During the second half of the twentieth century, an important Solar Research Department was developed in the Paris-Meudon Observatory thanks to Raymond Michard. After several years devoted to theoretical studies about stellar atmospheres at the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris Michard joined the Paris- Meudon Observatory in 1954. He replaced Lucien d'Azambuja as Director of the Solar Section, and succeeded to attract new young scientists, while building new high-performance instruments in good sites such as Pic du Midi. He became Director of the Solar and Planetary Department in 1968. All topics of solar physics were investigated, providing many results about coronal physics, solar activity and flares, but also fine structures of the quiet Sun. Michard knew that the best research involved successful collaborations. Eclipse missions, international cooperation and access to space instruments were developed. Participation to the European JOSO association prepared the future THEMIS telescope. In 1971 Michard left the Solar Department to be successively the President of Paris Observatory and then Nice Observatory. But his Solar Physics group in Meudon went on working with topics and means that he had successfully initiated.