The Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics in Marseilles (France): from the first world war to the present day

TL;DR

This paper chronicles the history and evolution of the Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics in Marseilles from its origins in World War I submarine detection research to its current state, highlighting its research developments and facilities.

Contribution

It provides a detailed historical account and evolution of the laboratory's research focus and infrastructure over the decades.

Findings

Historical evolution of the laboratory's research domains.

Development of specialized facilities for current research.

Continuity and adaptation of research activities over time.

Abstract

The Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics in Marseilles (France) was created in 1941, under the name of Centre de Recherches Scientifiques, Industrielles et Maritimes (CRSIM). But it was actually issued from the French Naval Research Center created in Toulon by the French Navy to work on submarine detection during World War I. LMA is therefore the result of a long and quite amazing story with several moves and even more name changes. It benefited from all these events and is today established in a new campus with large facilities specially designed for its latest research activities. This article presents the story in some details, summarize the evolution of the research domains through all these years and finally gives a description of the LMA today.