Yvette Cauchois

Yvette Cauchois (19 December 1908 – 19 November 1999) was a French physicist known for her contributions to X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray optics, and for pioneering European synchrotron research.

Cauchois attended school in Paris, and pursued undergraduate studies at the Sorbonne, who awarded her a degree in the physical sciences in July 1928.

In the early 1930s, Cauchois established the fundamental principles of a new X-ray spectrometer that was both easy to use and had a high resolution, satisfying the Bragg reflection condition.

Cauchois undertook graduate studies at the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry with the support of a National Fund for Science studentship, and was awarded her doctorate in 1933 for her work on the use of curved crystals for high-resolution X-ray analysis.

After completing her doctoral studies, Cauchois was appointed research assistant in the laboratory of Jean Perrin at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS).

The new spectrometer was named after her, and from 1934 she used it to observe gas emissions and multiplets.

The new technique was used around the world for the analysis of X-rays and gamma rays and prompted a wave of new scholarship in radiation studies.

Cauchois pioneered developments in X-ray imaging and observed that X-ray radiation could be focused using curved crystal for use in monochromators and X-ray scattering.

Cauchois' work on soft X-ray distributions was the first step in determining the photo-absorption spectra.

She used the radiation reflected from crystals to study the electronic structure of materials.

Cauchois systematically studied the X-ray spectra of heavy elements and actinides.

In 1936, Cauchois and Horia Hulubei claimed to have discovered element 85 via X-ray analysis, conducting further research and publishing on follow-up studies in 1939.

She was promoted to research associate in 1937, and in the same year participated in the launch of the Palais de la Découverte.

In January 1938 Cauchois was named head of the Physical Chemistry Laboratory in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Paris.

When World War II broke out, Cauchois maintained continuity at the Laboratory, acting as Head of Studies when Jean Perrin had to flee to the United States.

In 1945, when the Liberation of France led to the dismissal of Louis Dunoyer de Segonzac, Cauchois was promoted to Professor at the Sorbonne.

With McTaggart in 1948 she determined the differential absorption of X-rays by Zirconium and Hafnium.

Cauchois, Sonia Cotelle, and Hulubei proved the presence of polonium and neptunium, and Cauchois later pioneered studies on the X-ray spectra of transuranic elements.

A fascination with astrophysics led Cauchois to study extraterrestrial X-ray radiation, especially the solar X-ray spectrum using missile experiments.

She became Chair of Chemical Physics in 1954, succeeding Edmond Bauer to take charge of the laboratory.

With the number of researchers outgrowing the available space in the Laboratory, Cauchois founded the Centre de Chimie Physique at Orsay in 1960.

She directed this organisation for ten years, whilst simultaneously continuing her work at the Sorbonne.

From 1962, Cauchois initiated a research programme in collaboration with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati to explore the possibilities of synchrotron research.

She was the first person in Europe to realise the potential of the radiation emitted by electrons rotating in the synchrotron as a source for understanding the properties of matter.

In 1970 she produced X-ray images of the Sun.

In the early 1970s, Cauchois carried out her experiments at LURE (Laboratoire pour l'utilisation des radiations électromagnétiques).

Cauchois was particularly interested in assisting young and underprivileged people.

She also enjoyed poetry and music, and was a skilled grand piano player.

After meeting a priest from the monastery of Bârsana in Maramureș, Romania and discussing religious themes with him, Cauchois decided to be baptized in the Orthodox religion at age 86.

Cauchois contracted bronchitis on a trip to Romania, and died a few days after returning to Paris.

She was buried at Bârsana Monastery, to whom she bequeathed her assets.

She joined the University of Paris VI in 1971 following the division of the Sorbonne.

Cauchois chaired the French Society of Physical Chemistry from 1975–1978.

She was only the second woman to do so, after Marie Curie.

From 1978 until her retirement in 1983, Cauchois was Professor Emeritus at the University of Paris VI.

Cauchois was still conducting active laboratory research as late as 1992 (aged 83).

Over her lifetime she produced more than 200 publications, which continue to be cited today.