On 15 September 2017 the 'City of Success' school at Montpellier was renamed as 'High school Françoise Combes'.[2]
Education
Françoise Combes studied at the [[]École normale supérieure (Paris)|École normale supérieure] from 1971 to 1975. In 1975, she obtained the Agrégation and a PhD in Physics from Paris Diderot University, writing her thesis on the dynamics and structure of galaxies.
Research
Her research works are about galaxy formation and evolution, in a cosmological context. This work includes: galaxy dynamics, their spiral and barred structures, and interactions between galaxies, studied both through multi-wavelength observations and by numerical simulations.[3] Additionally, she has published extensively on the interstellar medium of galaxies. In particular, the molecular gas which gives birth to new stars in nearby galaxies, such as Andromeda, and which can be found in high redshift systems. She has published numerous reviews that range in her areas of interest.[4]
Françoise Combes has contributed to various models of dark matter, and is also interested in alternative solutions, such as modified gravity. She collaborated with Daniel Pfenniger in developing a model to account under the form of cold molecular gas for a large fraction of the dark baryons, which have not yet been identified.[5]
Françoise Combes is the author of over a thousand articles,[29] a number of books, and has participated in collective works. Her English-language books include:
Active Galactic Nuclei, 2022 F. Combes, ISTE Editor[30]
Active Galactic Nuclei: fueling and feedback, December 2021 F. Combes, IOP Editor[31]
Trous Noirs et Quasars, 2021, F. Combes, de Vive Voix[33]
Le Big Bang, 2019, F. Combes, Que-sais-je, PUF
The Milky Way (with James Lequeux), EDP Sciences, 2016, 196p (ISBN 978-2759819157)
La Matière Noire, clé de l'Univers, 2015, F. Combes, Vuibert
La Voie Lactée, 2013, (EdP-Sciences), F. Combes & J. Lequeux
Mysteries Of Galaxy Formation, Praxis, 2010, 224p (ISBN 978-1441908674)
Galaxies et Cosmologie (2009), (Ellipses), F. Combes, M. Haywood, S. Collin, F. Durret, B. Guiderdoni
A. Aspect, R. Balian, G. Bastard, J.P. Bouchaud, B. Cabane, F. Combes, T. Encrenaz, S. Fauve, A. Fert, M. Fink, A. Georges, J.F. Joanny, D. Kaplan, D. Le Bihan, P. Léna, H. Le Treut, J-P Poirier, J. Prost et J.L. Puget, Demain la physique, (Odile Jacob, 2009)
Mystères de la formation des galaxies (2008), (Dunod), F. Combes
The Cold Universe Saas-Fee Advanced Course. vol 32. Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy (with Andrew W. Blain) (editor: Daniel Pfenniger), Springer, 2004, (ISBN 978-3540408383)
Galaxies and Cosmology (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library) (with Patrick Boissé) (translator: M. Seymour), Springer, 2nd Ed 2004, 468p (ISBN 978-3540419273)
Galaxies and Cosmology (1995), (Springer), P. Boissé, A. Mazure et A. Blanchard, (réédité en 2002)
Galaxies et Cosmologie (1991), (Inter-Sciences, CNRS), P. Boissé, A. Mazure et A. Blanchard
^Switzerland, Marc Türler and Mathias Beck, ISDC, Observatory of the University of Geneva. "Tycho Brahe Prize". eas.unige.ch.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
