# Robert Klapisch

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{{Short description|French physicist (1932–2020)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Robert Klapisch
| image             = Robert Klapisch.png
| alt               = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption           = 
| birth_name        = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date        = 26 December 1932
| birth_place       = [Cachan](/source/Cachan), [France](/source/France)
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=y|2020|03|21|1932|12|26}}
| death_place       = [Paris](/source/Paris), [France](/source/France)
| other_names       = 
| years_active      = 
| known_for         = 
| notable_works     = 
| doctoral_advisor  = René Bernas
| fields            = Nuclear physics
| alma_mater        = [ESPCI Paris](/source/ESPCI_Paris), [Paris-Sud University](/source/Paris-Sud_University)
| spouse            = Françoise Meyer, [Christiane Klapisch-Zuber](/source/Christiane_Klapisch-Zuber), Louise Klapisch
| workplaces        = [CNRS](/source/French_National_Centre_for_Scientific_Research), [CERN](/source/CERN)
}}
'''Robert Elie Klapisch''' (26 December 1932 – 21 March 2020<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hommages.ch/Defunt/126651/Robert%20Elie_KLAPISCH|title=Hommages - Pour que son souvenir demeure: Robert Elie Klapisch|website=hommages.ch|access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref>) was a French engineer and physicist.<ref>{{Cite journal|year=2020|title=Robert Klapisch 1932–2020: a life dedicated to science and solidarity|journal=CERN Courier|volume=60|issue=3|pages=65}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fr.news.yahoo.com/c%C3%A9dric-klapisch-deuil-r%C3%A9alisateur-lauberge-145510926.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9mci53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADN1gCxQU1SSfQ5CtmhRa3ToelGA2YXijBy-ig5D4iqOetqiSfvLMnBFcmaHuCogGoNcFrjFE-NBLVZ_xOo2rhvKw70EK3TehEVQ9NCAtu2Lx8u22vFsbRMAm1CQFMFjNDGUMacpTNpGqMHTFt5C9UxSopUOGDp-XHlFZhvfkgrc|title=Cédric Klapisch en deuil : le réalisateur de L'auberge espagnole annonce le décès de son papa|date=23 March 2020|work=Yahoo!|language=fr}}</ref>

==Biography==
Klapisch completed his secondary studies at [Lycée Lakanal](/source/Lyc%C3%A9e_Lakanal) in [Sceaux](/source/Sceaux%2C_Hauts-de-Seine), before attending [Lycée Louis-le-Grand](/source/Lyc%C3%A9e_Louis-le-Grand) in [Paris](/source/Paris) and Collège Lavoisier. He obtained an engineering degree from [ESPCI Paris](/source/ESPCI_Paris) in 1952,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espci.org/fr/anciens/eleves/71/|title=Les ingénieurs de la 71e promotion de l'ESPCI Paris|work=ESPCI|language=fr}}</ref> and a doctorate at [Paris-Sud University](/source/Paris-Sud_University) in 1966.

Klapisch began working at the [French National Centre for Scientific Research](/source/French_National_Centre_for_Scientific_Research) (CNRS) in 1956, after his graduation from ESPCI. He interrupted his research between 1960 and 1962 to perform his military service in the [Algerian War](/source/Algerian_War). Between 1968 and 1969 Klapisch had a sabbatical leave, which he spent at [Princeton University](/source/Princeton_University). He also conducted research at the [Curie Institute](/source/Curie_Institute_(Paris)) in Paris, employed alongside Jean Teillac and René Bernas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciences.u-psud.fr/fr/la_faculte/historique-et-environnement.html|title=René Bernas|work=Université Paris-Saclay|language=fr}}</ref> Klapisch was one of the original members of the [Institut national de physique nucléaire et de physique des particules](/source/Institut_national_de_physique_nucl%C3%A9aire_et_de_physique_des_particules) (IPN), founded in 1956. After Bernas' premature death<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=CERN Courier |volume=11|page=195|url=https://cds.cern.ch/record/1729339|title=Death of Professor Bernas|publisher=CERN|year=1971|location=Geneva }}</ref> at age 50, in 1971, Klapisch directed the laboratories at IPN.

Klapisch held the position as director of research at the European Council for Nuclear Research ([CERN](/source/CERN)) from 1981 to 1986.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://cds.cern.ch/record/28058/|title=Senior Staff Appointments (by the Director-General) (Gabathuler, Klapisch, Mannelli, Heyn)|publisher=CERN|year=1980|series=CERN/1380|pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://library.cern/archives/CERN_archive/guide/management/directorate/isadirres|title=Archives of Directors of Research {{!}} CERN Scientific Information Service|website=library.cern|access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref> In this role he supervised the research program for the [Super Proton–Antiproton Synchrotron](/source/Super_Proton%E2%80%93Antiproton_Synchrotron), which resulted in the award of the [Nobel Prize in Physics](/source/Nobel_Prize_in_Physics) in 1984 to [Carlo Rubbia](/source/Carlo_Rubbia) and [Simon van der Meer](/source/Simon_van_der_Meer)  "''for their decisive contributions to the large project, which led to the discovery of the field particles W and Z, communicators of weak interaction.''"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1984/summary/|title=The Nobel Prize in Physics 1984|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref> As a strong supporter of the [Low Energy Antiproton Ring](/source/Low_Energy_Antiproton_Ring),<ref>{{Cite book|last=Plass|first=Günther|url=https://cds.cern.ch/record/124681|title=Design study of a facility for experiments with low energy antiprotons (LEAR)|publisher=CERN|year=1980|location=Geneva}}</ref> Klapisch went on to be one of the pioneers of the antiproton programme. He also played an instrumental role in the development of the heavy-ion research program at CERN,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://cds.cern.ch/record/62450|title=123rd Meeting of Scientific Policy Committee, 21 - 22 Jun 1982 - CERN, Geneva, Switzerland : Draft minutes|year=1982}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Rafelski|first=Johann|title=Possible Experiments with Heavy Ions at the PS/SPS: CERN SPC 1982|date=2016|work=Melting Hadrons, Boiling Quarks - From Hagedorn Temperature to Ultra-Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions at CERN|pages=379–386|editor-last=Rafelski|editor-first=Johann|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-17545-4_29|bibcode=2016mhbq.book..379R|isbn=978-3-319-17544-7|author-link=Johann Rafelski|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bruno|first=Giuseppe Eugenio|year=2015|editor-last=Bravina|editor-first=L.|editor2-last=Foka|editor2-first=Y.|editor3-last=Kabana|editor3-first=S.|title=CERN achievements in relativistic heavy ion collisions|journal=EPJ Web of Conferences|volume=95|pages=06001|doi=10.1051/epjconf/20159506001|bibcode=2015EPJWC..9506001E|issn=2100-014X|doi-access=free}}</ref> which opened the possibilities to study [quark–gluon plasma](/source/quark%E2%80%93gluon_plasma).<ref>{{Citation|last=Rafelski|first=Johann|title=Quark-Gluon Plasma in p̄- Annihilation on Nuclei|date=1984|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-1-4684-8727-5_48|work=Physics at LEAR with Low-Energy Cooled Antiprotons|pages=507–511|editor-last=Gastaldi|editor-first=Ugo|publisher=Springer New York|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-1-4684-8727-5_48|isbn=978-1-4684-8729-9|access-date=2020-03-27|editor2-last=Klapisch|editor2-first=Robert|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Gastaldi|first1=Ugo|url=https://cds.cern.ch/record/134736|title=The LEAR project and physics with low-energy antiprotons|last2=Klapisch|first2=Robert|year=1981}}</ref> From 1994 to 2000, Klapisch was involved in a group, led by Rubbia, devoted to an [innovative approach to nuclear energy](/source/Energy_amplifier).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://home.cern/news/obituary/physics/robert-klapisch-1932-2020|title=Robert Klapisch (1932 - 2020)|date=31 March 2020|website=CERN|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Rubbia|first1=Carlo|url=https://cds.cern.ch/record/289551|title=Conceptual design of a fast neutron operated high power energy amplifier|last2=Rubio|first2=Juan Antonio|last3=Buono|first3=S.|last4=Carminati|first4=F.|last5=Fiétier|first5=N.|last6=Gálvez|first6=J.|last7=Gelès|first7=C.|last8=Kadi|first8=Y.|last9=Klapisch|first9=Robert|publisher=CERN|year=1995|series=CERN-AT-95-44-ET|location=Geneva}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Klapisch|first=Robert|year=2000|title=Accelerator driven systems: an application of proton accelerators to nuclear power industry|journal=Europhysics News|volume=31|issue=6|pages=26–28|doi=10.1051/epn:2000606|bibcode=2000ENews..31f..26K|issn=0531-7479|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In 2002, President [Jacques Chirac](/source/Jacques_Chirac) and Prime Minister [Roselyne Bachelot](/source/Roselyne_Bachelot) assigned [Yves Coppens](/source/Yves_Coppens) with creating the French [Charter for the Environment](/source/Charter_for_the_Environment). Klapisch accepted Coppens' invitation to join the scientific committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vie-publique.fr/rapport/27236-rapport-commission-coppens-preparation-charte-environnement|title=Rapport Commission Coppens preparation Charte environnement {{!}} Vie publique|website=www.vie-publique.fr|access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref> Klapisch served on a number of scientific committees in [Europe](/source/Europe), the [United States](/source/United_States), and [Canada](/source/Canada). In 1982, [Jean-Pierre Chevènement](/source/Jean-Pierre_Chev%C3%A8nement) asked him to write a report on the future of nuclear science in [France](/source/France). This report earned him a spot in the [Ordre des Palmes académiques](/source/Ordre_des_Palmes_acad%C3%A9miques).

In 2002, Klapisch organized a series of lectures, called ''Partage du Savoir en Méditerranée'', carried out under the direction of the Association for the Advancement of Sciences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciences.u-psud.fr/fr/la_faculte/historique.htm|title=AFAS|work=Advancement Sciences|language=fr}}</ref> The conferences were finally held on 1 through 3 March 2010 in [Jordan](/source/Jordan), 6 May 2011 in [Malta](/source/Malta), 17 to 20 May in [Tunis](/source/Tunis), and 7 through 9 May in [Rabat](/source/Rabat). From January 2010 until his death, Klapisch was an elected member of the Institute for Advanced Studies on Sustainability based in [Potsdam](/source/Potsdam), of which [Klaus Töpfer](/source/Klaus_T%C3%B6pfer) is the Director.

== Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions ==
* 50px [Legion of Honour](/source/Legion_of_Honour) (2007)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sharing-knowledge.org/robert-klapisch-president-of-the-foundation-receives-the-medal-of-officier-de-la-legion-dhonneur/|title=Robert Klapisch, President of the Foundation, receives the Medal of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur|date=2007-11-09|website=Sharing Knowledge Foundation|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
*Knight of the [Order of Academic Palms](/source/Order_of_Academic_Palms) (1982)
*Joliot-Curie Prize of the [French Physical Society](/source/French_Physical_Society) (1970)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfpnet.fr/prix/prix-joliot-curie|title=Prix Joliot-Curie - Société Française de Physique|website=www.sfpnet.fr|language=fr|access-date=2020-04-01|archive-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812152921/https://sfpnet.fr/prix/prix-joliot-curie|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[Three Physicists Prize](/source/Three_Physicists_Prize) of the [École Normale Supérieure](/source/%C3%89cole_normale_sup%C3%A9rieure) (1980)
*W. F. Rockwell Medal for Science and Technology de l'International Institute for Technology

==Publications==
*{{cite journal|doi=10.1146/annurev.ns.19.120169.000341|doi-access=free|title=Mass Separation for Nuclear Reaction Studies|year=1969|last1=Klapisch|first1=R.|journal=[Annual Review of Nuclear Science](/source/Annual_Review_of_Nuclear_Science)|volume=19|pages=33–60|bibcode=1969ARNPS..19...33K}}
*''Hyperfine Spectroscopy of radioactive atoms'' (1979)
*''Le rayon et la forme des noyaux exotiques'' (1980)
*''Laser optical spectroscopy on francium D2 resonance line'' (1980)
*''Laser spectroscopy of alkali atoms'' (1981)
*''La Charte de l’environnement : enjeux scientifiques et juridique'' (2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avancement-sciences.org/fichiers/2003_Charte.pdf|title=La Charte de l'environnement : enjeux scientifiques et juridiques|date=13 March 2003|work=Consultation Nationale pour la Charte de l'Environnnement|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115070223/http://www.avancement-sciences.org/fichiers/2003_Charte.pdf|archive-date=15 November 2008}}</ref>
*''Projet Rubbia de réacteur nucléaire sous-critique'' (2000)
*Publications by Robert Klapisch recorded in [INSPIRE-HEP](/source/INSPIRE-HEP).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://inspirehep.net/author/profile/R.Klapisch.1|title=Klapisch, Robert - Profile - INSPIRE-HEP|website=inspirehep.net|access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klapisch, Robert}}
Category:1932 births
Category:2020 deaths
Category:People associated with CERN
Category:20th-century French engineers
Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour
Category:French physicists
Category:Recipients of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques
Category:French recipients of the Legion of Honour

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Klapisch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Klapisch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Klapisch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.