This visit was a special occasion for the Musée Ampère, whose mission is to introduce visitors to the major milestones in the history of electricity while highlighting their connections with contemporary scientific research.
From Ampère and Fresnel to Quantum Physics
The first new display case highlights the personal and scientific ties between André-Marie Ampère and Augustin Fresnel, two major figures in nineteenth-century physics. Its development benefited from the contributions of staff from the Institut Lumière Matière (Université Lyon 1 and CNRS).
The second exhibit offers a glimpse into one of the major scientific and technological developments of our time: quantum computing. Developed with the support of researchers from the Physics Laboratory of the École normale supérieure de Lyon, it introduces visitors to the principles and challenges of this emerging technology.
The inauguration by Alain Aspect, whose experimental work on quantum entanglement earned him the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics, thus establishes a particularly symbolic link between the history of physics and its most recent developments. Alain Aspect holds the Augustin Fresnel Chair at the Institut d’Optique.
A Gathering Celebrating Scientific Heritage
The ceremony brought together representatives of the scientific and academic communities, including Emmanuel Trizac, President of the École normale supérieure de Lyon; François Gerin, President of the SEE; Christian Gaillard, President of the Académie de Lyon; as well as members and partners of the Société des Amis d’André-Marie Ampère (SAAMA).
Through these new exhibits, the Musée Ampère continues to enrich its collections and science communication activities, guided by a constant ambition: to make science engaging, understandable and accessible to everyone, particularly younger generations.
We extend our warmest thanks to Alain Aspect for his presence and support for this initiative, as well as to all the individuals and institutions who contributed to the development of these new exhibits.
