Henri Epstein (1932-2024)

It is with great sadness that IHES shares the news of the passing of Henri Epstein, aged 92, on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Henri Epstein, a graduate of École Polytechnique (X53), discovered theoretical physics thanks to Louis Michel, a permanent professor at IHES from 1962 to 1992, who was then at Polytechnique.

After several visits to the Institute, Henri Epstein, CNRS research director in physics, officially joined IHES in 1971. A theoretical physicist basing his research on sophisticated mathematical models, he worked in particular on the quantum theory of relativistic fields and on dynamical systems, areas in which he made numerous contributions.

Fascinated by computers and machines, he also helped the Institute in its IT equipment.

CNRS emeritus research director since 1999, he continued to play a major role at IHES in facilitating and developing contacts between physicists and mathematicians.

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Henri Epstein and Mathematical Physics by Ugo Moschella and Slava Rychkov

Memories of Henri Epstein by Giovanni Gallavotti

Tribute to Henri Epstein by Arthur M. Jaffe