Janine Connes (, 19 May 1926 – 28 November 2024) was a French astronomer whose research led to the establishment of the

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a technique used to obtain an infrared Electromagnetic spectrum, spectrum of Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), absorption or Emission (electromagnetic radiation), emission of a solid, liquid, ...

method, which was of major significance and laid the foundations of what was to grow into a significant new field. Connes was married to , a fellow astronomer, until his death in 2019. The couple often conducted research together. Together with her husband and Robert B. Leighton, they were nominated for the

Nobel Prize in Physics The Nobel Prize in Physics () is an annual award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for those who have made the most outstanding contributions to mankind in the field of physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the ...

in 1970.

Research

The Connes work was primarily in analysing the

technique, a field the couple began studying in 1954 in Laboratoire Aimé-Cotton directed by Pierre Jacquinot. Her 1961 thesis and subsequent publications gave in-depth analysis of the practical details necessary for its use, with her thesis credited for establishing many of the early design principles. She collaborated and travelled often to the

Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a Federally funded research and development centers, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Crescenta Valley, United States. Founded in 1936 by Cali ...

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

. With her husband Pierre Connes she imaged

Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...

and

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...

at the ''Observatoire du Pic du Midi de Bigorre'' using the method, presenting images far better than others taken at the time. Connes identified the registration advantage of using

interferometry Interferometry is a technique which uses the ''interference (wave propagation), interference'' of Superposition principle, superimposed waves to extract information. Interferometry typically uses electromagnetic waves and is an important inves ...

. This result is known as Connes' advantage. She was the founder of the ''Centre inter-régional de calcul électronique'' (CIRCÉ) in

Orsay Orsay () is a Communes of France, commune in the Essonne Departments of France, department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France, from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris. A fortifie ...

in 1969, attached to the

French National Centre for Scientific Research The French National Centre for Scientific Research (, , CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe. In 2016, it employed 31,637 staff, including 11,137 tenured researchers, 13,415 engi ...

(CNRS). She works there as director of the center until 1982. She left this position to work as the director of scientific informatics of the CNRS. Connes died on 28 November 2024, at the age of 98.

Awards

She was awarded the Prix Aimé Cotton by the Société Française de Physique in 1961.

Publications

Source: *"The Field of Application of the Fourier Transform Method," ''J. Phys. Radium'' 19: 197 (1958) *"A Study of the Night Sky in the Near Infrared," ''J. Phys. Radium'' 21: 645 (1960), with H.P. Gush n French *"Near-Infrared Planetary Spectra by Fourier Spectroscopy. I. Instruments and Results," ''Journal of the Optical Society of America'' 56: 896 (1966), with P. Connes n English The following four papers are" fundamental works of extreme importance to the field" -- Professor Ian McLean. * "Spectroscopic Studies Using Fourier Transformations," ''Rev. Opt.'' 40 (no.2): 45 (1961) n French* "Spectroscopic Studies Using Fourier Transformations," ''Rev. Opt.'' 40 (no.3): 116 (1961) n French* "Spectroscopic Studies Using Fourier Transformations," ''Rev. Opt.'' 40 (no.4): 171 (1961) n French* "Spectroscopic Studies Using Fourier Transformations," ''Rev. Opt.'' 40 (no.5): 231 (1961) n French* "Fourier Transform Spectroscopy: Introductory Report," ''Mem. Soc. Roy. Sci. Liège'' 9: 81 (1964) n French

References

1926 deaths 2024 deaths 20th-century French astronomers 20th-century French women scientists Women physical chemists French physical chemists French women astronomers Spectroscopists {{France-astronomer-stub