This is with a lot of sadness that we have learned that François Legay passed away last Thusday, the 10th of January 2019, getting close to the age of 90.
François Legay was a bright scientist who impulsed several fruitful research fields all along his career. He has revealed several high class scientists talents, and he was always willing to help and provide significant advices and support to young scientists, with a lot of generosity and kindness.
François Legay’s scientific CNRS career started in Orsay at the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique. Once he elucidated the mechanisms of collision induced vibrational energy transfers, he discovered the strikingly efficient "vibroluminescence" of CO2 by molecular nitrogen activated by electrical discharges. This led him to become the “father” of CO2 lasers!
In the late 60’s, part of the Parisian Physical Chemistry community wanted to move to the Orsay campus. François Legay took a central part in the creation of the new Laboratoire de Photophysique Moléculaire (LPPM) in 1967, where he created one of the four initial research teams of the laboratory. The “Legay team” was expert in infrared spectroscopy and rovibrational energy relaxation processes, and was pioneer in the first molecular powerful lasers, in particular the CO and CO2 lasers. They also focused on the study of low temperature rare gas matrix isolated molecules, as early as in the 70’s.
We lose a dear colleague, appreciated by so many of us. Integrity, intelligence, and above all modesty are the first words that will come to our mind when we will remember him.
We address our most sympathetic thoughts to his wife Nicole, our friend and colleague, as well as to all his family.
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