In the course of 2005, Pierre Binétruy asked Alain de Bellefon to assemble a "writing committee" to explore the possibility of producing a notebook on the legacy of the College de France’s laboratory (or laboratories) in "atomic, nuclear, molecular, and particle physics."
The main idea was to tell a story and to put into perspective the evolution of the field of astroparticle physics and that of the laboratory APC.
To this end, Alain formed a small team to study the feasibility of such a project. Ultimately, a writing committee—comprising Alain himself, Jean-Michel Brunet, Bernard Equer, Gérard Fontaine, Théo Leray, Pierre Lutz, and Gérard Tristram—developed the structure of the publication:
The Golden Age of Bubble Chambers (1967–1977) 80 cm CERN, 2 m CERN, rapid cycling, Mirabelle, BEPC Alongside the evolution of techniques: IEP, HPD, LSD, CRT
Emergence and Development of Electronics Experiments (1970–1985) The pioneers: Saturne, DESY The large spectrometers: SFM, Omega, NA3, NA14 Alongside the evolution of techniques: spark chambers, proportional chambers, drift chambers, etc.
Major Collider Experiments (1978–1999) UA1 and Delphi
Gigantism and the Industrialization of Processes
The Birth of Astroparticle Physics at the Laboratory (1987–2000) Indium bead-based detectors, experiment at the Bugey reactor, observation of astrophysical gamma radiation at the Thémistocle site in the Pyrenees Second generation: CAT, Celeste, Chooz, Auger... Adaptation to new techniques: optics, cryogenics, imaging...
Future and Perspectives (2000–...) The 2000s, space, etc.
Each chapter was placed under the responsibility of a reference physicist:
- “The Golden Age of Bubble Chambers” – Bernard Equer
- “Emergence and Development of Electronics Experiments” – Théo Leray
- “Major Collider Experiments” – Pierre Lutz
- “The Birth of Astroparticle Physics” – Gérard Fontaine
The drafting of this document relied on the memories and contributions of many individuals, among whom Michel Crozon, Christian Defoix, and Claude Ghesquière played a pivotal role. For the writing of the final chapter and to assist in finalizing the entire publication, Daniel Vignaud—director of the laboratory from 1999 to 2004—joined the writing committee.
Many reviewers greatly contributed to the harmony and accuracy of the reported facts, particularly: Marcel Froissart, professor at the Collège de France and director of the laboratory from 1973 to 1999, as well as Pierre Billoir, Dominique Broszkiewicz, Pierre Frenkiel, Yannick Giraud-Héraud, Jean-Jacques Jaeger, Gérard Sajot, Monique and Raymond Sené, and Charling Tao.
Since none of the authors are historians, the document is rather "elements of a history" rather than "a history." Furthermore, while striving to be as comprehensive as possible, it does not claim to be exhaustive.