Franck Hersant

France

1977-2020


Obituary:

C’est avec une immense tristesse que nous avons appris la disparition soudaine de Franck Hersant, chercheur CNRS au Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB). Il avait 43 ans.

Après des études supérieures en Physique fondamentale menées à l’Université Paris 7 et un diplôme de DEA d’Astrophysique et Milieux Dilués obtenu à l’Université de Grenoble en 1999, Franck Hersant soutient sa thèse de doctorat en 2002 sur la turbulence dans la nébuleuse solaire primitive sous la direction de Bérengère Dubrulle (CEA-Saclay) et Daniel Gautier (LESIA/Obs. Paris- Meudon-Nançay). Il rejoint ensuite l’Institut d’Astrophysique Théorique (Heidelberg/All.) et l’équipe de Wolfgang J. Duschl sur une bourse accordée par l’ESA, puis, sur deux contrats postdoctoraux successifs, le LESIA en 2005 et le LAB en 2006. Franck Hersant est recruté au CNRS en 2008 et poursuit ses recherches au LAB sur la formation du Système Solaire incluant le fractionnement isotopique, le mélange turbulent et la composition physico-chimique des comètes et des planètes. Il continue d’élargir son domaine d’expertise en étudiant les interactions gaz-grains, la chimie dans les disques circumstellaires, dans les atmosphères planétaires et le milieu interstellaire, les systèmes auto-gravitants en rotation, la migration planétaire et les effets de marées. Franck contribuera au succès de nombreuses thèses. La diversité des sujets qu’il aborde est à l’image de l’esprit brillant, vif et curieux qui le caractérise.

La communauté scientifique s’est enrichie d’un chercheur d’exception. Celles et ceux qui ont eu la chance de le connaître, tant professionnellement que personnellement, retiendront de lui un être humble, sensible, altruiste, toujours bienveillant, profondément attachant et chaleureux. Nous ne le remplacerons pas. Il laisse un vide immense derrière lui.

- Transmis par Jean-Marc Huré

Franck Hersant, CNRS researcher at the Laboratory of Astrophysics in Bordeaux (LAB), passed
away suddenly of unknown causes. He was 43 years old.

After graduate studies in fundamental physics at Paris 7 University and the University of Grenoble
in 1999, Franck Hersant defended his doctoral thesis in 2002 on turbulence in the solar nebula
under the direction of Bérengère Dubrulle (CEA-Saclay) and Daniel Gautier (LESIA / Obs. Paris-
Meudon-Nançay). He then joined the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics in Heidelberg (Wolfgang
J. Duschl), Germany. After postdoctoral work at LESIA in 2005 and LAB in 2006, Hersant was
recruited to the CNRS in 2008 and continued his research at the LAB on the formation of the Solar
System including isotopic fractionation, turbulent mixing and the physico-chemical composition of
comets and planets. He expanded his fields of expertise into gas-grain interactions, chemistry in
circumstellar disks, planetary atmospheres and the interstellar medium, self-gravitating systems
in rotation, planetary migration and the effects of tides. Franck was a key contributor to the
success of numerous research projects and theses. The diversity of the subjects and his
approaches to them reflect his brilliant, curious and lively intellect.

The scientific community has lost an exceptional researcher. Those who had the chance to know
him, both professionally and personally, will remember a humble, sensitive, altruistic person,
always kind, warm and deeply endearing. He leaves a huge void behind him.

- Translated by J.Lunine

Past affiliation(s) within the IAU

  • Past Member of Division A Fundamental Astronomy (until 2020)
  • Past Member of Division F Planetary Systems and Astrobiology (until 2020)
  • Past Member of Division H Interstellar Matter and Local Universe (until 2020)
  • Past Member of Commission 7 Celestial Mechanics & Dynamical Astronomy (until 2015)
  • Past Member of Commission 16 Physical Study of Planets & Satellites (until 2015)
  • Past Member of Commission 34 Interstellar Matter (until 2015)
  • Past Member of Commission 53 Extrasolar Planets (WGESP) (until 2015)

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