Michel Hénon
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox scientist Michel Hénon (Template:IPA; 23 July 1931, Paris – 7 April 2013, Nice) was a French mathematician and astronomer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He worked for a long time at the Nice Observatory.
In astronomy, Hénon is well known for his contributions to stellar dynamics. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he made important contributions on the dynamical evolution of star clusters, in particular globular clusters. He developed a numerical technique using Monte Carlo methods to follow the dynamical evolution of a spherical star cluster much faster than the so-called n-body methods.
In mathematics, he is well known for the Hénon map, a simple discrete dynamical system that exhibits chaotic behavior. He published a two-volume work on the restricted three-body problem.
In 1978 he was awarded the Prix Jean Ricard.
The European Space Agency's HENON spacecraft is named after him and will use a type of orbit he developed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
References
External links
- Hénon's publications (a partial list from NASA Astrophysics Data System).
- A discussion of Hénon's equation, contains further links.
- Simulation of Hénon map in javascript (experiences.math.cnrs.fr).