In memoriam Dr Eric Sudreau (1944-2014)

In memoriam Dr Eric Sudreau (1944-2014)

Ultramicroscopy 159 (2015) xiv Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Ultramicroscopy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ultramic In Comm...

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Ultramicroscopy 159 (2015) xiv

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Ultramicroscopy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ultramic

In Commemoration of Pierre Sudraud (1944-2015) Founder and Head of Orsay Physics

It is with great sadness that we have learned recently of the passing of Pierre Sudraud. In the community of field emission, Pierre Sudraud was a well-recognised expert. He had been a pioneer in the development of liquid metal ion sources (LMIS) and their application in FIB columns. We knew him well and would like to send to you this memorial. Pierre prepared and defended his doctorate thesis in 1979 at Orsay under the supervision of one of us (C. Colliex). His thesis work was focused on the emission of ions from a liquid metal surface and the implementation of such a source for LMIS. During the next years spent at the Solid State Physics Laboratory at Orsay, he developed, in parallel, experiments in basic physics to understand the mechanisms of the emission at the apex of a liquid tip, and also practical technological systems such as a precursor to the dual beam column. During that

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3991(15)00202-8 0304-3991/

period, he hosted the 31st International Field Emission Symposium in Paris in 1984, which was a recognition of his international stature. Pierre Sudraud then devoted himself to the manufacturing/ business side of science and created the company Orsay Physics in 1989. After an initial period in an industrial park near Orsay, the company was transferred to the south of France, close to Aix-enProvence, while keeping the same name. From that time, Orsay Physics has constantly grown (up to a staff of more than 40 people over the past few years). Orsay Physics established itself as a leader in the domain of focused ion beam columns, to be integrated in complex micro- and nanomachining systems, in partnership with various companies, including Schlumberger, Cambridge Instruments, Zeiss, and Hitachi. During this entire period, Pierre Sudraud remained deeply involved in the research and development of new devices in ion sources and electron optics, often in direct collaboration with academic partners. About a dozen students have been involved in the preparation of Ph.D. theses, which demonstrates the rich and innovative contribution of Pierre Sudraud to an area of nanotechnology which has seen spectacular growth. Recently, Pierre organized the merger of Orsay Physics with the Czech company TESCAN. TESCAN-ORSAY holding was formed in 2013 and it is a very satisfying thought, in these sad moments, that Orsay Physics will continue to thrive and to perpetuate the very rich legacy of Pierre Sudraud. Christian Colliex and Didier Blavette (April 2015)