Hi Ludovic Petitdemange, you are now unmasked! Can you tell us a little more about your background?

I obtained my Baccalaureate at INJA, higher studies were difficult for me because not very accessible for the visually impaired persons.

I have a Bachelor in Physics-Maths, a Master 1 in Plasma Physics (Nancy) and a Master 2 in Astrophysics (Paris Observatory). I then did a thesis at the ENS. For a year, I was an ATER at Sorbonne University before going to Germany for a year at the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg. Since 2011, I am CR-CNRS.

Can you say a little more about your current research in plasma physics?

Using mathematical and numerical models, I try to better understand the observations of stellar and planetary magnetic fields. For example, we have observed for a long time (Galilée 1610) dark spots on the surface of the Sun and we know that they have a magnetic origin since Larmor 1919 but we still ignore the physical processes that control their periodicity of 11 years, their morphologies and their intensity ... Similarly, planetary magnetic fields are generated at the heart of these objects and it is still difficult to understand why each planet has a particular and unique magnetic activity. Magnetism can strongly modify these objects by promoting the transport of chemical elements, by increasing the transport of heat ...

Can you share with us the references of your latest publications?

• Gissinger C., Petitdemange L., (2019), Magnetic effects on fields morphologies and reversals in geodynamo simulations, Nature Astronomy, doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0713-3

•  Menu M., Petitdemange L., Galtier S., Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, PEPI, 307, 106542 (2020). 

•  Raynaud R., Petitdemange L., Dormy E., Dipolar dynamos in stratified systems, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), 488, 2055-2065, (2015) 

Can you tell us a little more about the teaching actions you lead?

I love to teach and share my passion for science. I have been teaching hydrodynamics for 5 years at the Polytech engineering school of Sorbonne University. I teach at L3 level an introductory course (20h) and a compressible aerodynamics course at M1 level (32h). I do a lot of scientific outreach and I support various associations which seek to promote astronomy for all such as des Etoiles pour tous and Ciel d'Occitanie.

What site(s) do you work on?

I work 3 to 4 days a week at Jussieu and 1 to 2 days at the Paris Observatory (Paris or Meudon site).

Can you explain to us the actions you take with the general public?

I carry out outreach actions on a fairly regular basis to promote Science and Astronomy and allow disabled audiences such as the blind and visually impaired to learn science. I work in specialized schools and institutes and I advise centers open to the public (Cité des sciences, Pic du Midi ...) to make Science accessible.

If PLAS@PAR faces a challenge for the next 5 years, what do you think it is?

Carry out some ambitious projects allowing the Federation's researchers to express their talents by coordinating the many know-how!

One last word ?

Sharing and exchanging allows you to see further!

Thank you.

Thank you very much Ludovic Petitdemange! Who's next ?