Laurent Mugnier Research Director
Course and current status
POSITIONS HELD
• Since 2020: Research Director (Directeur de Recherches) at ONERA.
In charge of coordinating data processing activities of the High Angular Resolution research
team (Unité Haute Résolution Angulaire).
• 2013-2019: Senior Research Scientist, 2nd level (Maître de Recherche 2) at ONERA.
• 2000-2012: Senior Research Scientist (Maître de Recherche 1) at ONERA.
• 1994-1999: Research scientist (Ingénieur de Recherche) at ONERA.
• 1993: Post-doctoral fellow, Northwestern University (USA), Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science department: image restoration by use of the bispectrum.
• 1989-1992: PhD fellow, Telecom ParisTech (Paris): Towards an inversion of conoscopic holograms.
Development of inversion methods for interferometric data for the reconstruction of
a three-dimensional scene. Design, integration and exploitation of an automated conoscopic
hologram acquisition set-up.
AWARDS
• Grand Prix Lazare Carnot 2019 of the French Science Academy – a biennial prize established by the Minister of Defence to reward research works with prospects for both civilian and military applications
EDUCATION
• 2011: Professorial Thesis (accreditation to supervise research, a.k.a. HDR), entitled Inverse
Problems in High Angular Resolution, from Univ. Paris Diderot – Paris 7.
• 1989-1992: PhD in Physics summa cum laude from Telecom ParisTech, Paris, France, with
specialty “Signal and Image Processing”.
• 1988-1989: Master’s degree in Image Processing from Telecom ParisTech, Paris, France.
• 1985-1988: Ecole Polytechnique, France.
Scientific summary
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
I am a physicist with a specialty in data processing a.k.a. inverse problems, working in the High
Angular Resolution research team of ONERA’s Optics Department. I am in charge of coordinating
the data processing activities of the team.
I develop methods that enable the maximization of the scientific production of instruments, for
a variety of real-world applications in the field of high-resolution optical imaging. These applications
include astronomical and satellite observation from the ground with adaptive optics (AO), highcontrast
imaging for planet detection, Earth observation from space, high-resolution retinal imaging
for ophtalmology, free space optical telecommunications, high-power laser beam shaping, etc.
These methods address three different aspects of an instrument: (1) the design of the instrument
per se (e.g., the optimization of the imaging capabilities of an interferometer); (2) the calibration of the
instrument i.e., the measurement and correction of its defects (e.g., the sub-nanometric measurement
of the aberrations of a planet hunting instrument by coronagraphic phase diversity); and (3) the processing
of data acquired by the instrument (e.g., unsupervised blind deconvolution of adaptive-optics
corrected LEO satellite images, super-resolved restoration of in vivo adaptive-optics corrected retinal
images). Additionally, the co-design approach I enjoy consists in intertwining these three aspects in
order to jointly optimize the design of the instrument, its calibration and its data processing.
My activities also include the training of young scientists: supervision of PhD theses (5 currently
and a total of 36 to date, full list on laurent.mugnier.free.fr/publis/publis.html#theses); graduate-level
teaching activities (about 30 hours per year, head of a Minor on High Angular Resolution at Centrale-
Supelec, teachings at various summer schools), and contributions to textbooks. I have additionally
been a member of 20 other PhD and professorial thesis (HDR) defense committees.
Evaluation committees, scientific councils (past and present): HCERES expert since 2014, member
of the scientific councils of GIS PHASE (Partenariat Haute-résolution Angulaire Sol Espace), of
Labex FOCUS (FOCal plane array for Universe Sensing), and of the national interferometric expertise
center JMMC (Jean-Marie Mariotti Center).
Project and sub-project leadership:
• Leader of several studies on the measurement of telescope aberrations for future Earth observation
optical satellites (Cnes and Airbus).
• Leader of several studies on the measurement and correction of optical defects for future spaceborne
high-contrast imaging telescopes for planet detection (Cnes).
• Leader of a study for interferometric imaging with planar optics from space (Spider, Cnes).
• Project leader on a European EUCLID project on the feasibility of Synthetic Aperture Optics
for Earth imaging from space. Project leader on the French Defense-funded follow-up study.
Project leader of a Defense-funded project on the spectral characterization of GEO satellites.
• Leader of a variety of high-resolution data-processing sub-projects: satellite imaging from the
ground (ObsSat, DGA), detector PSF characterization (Intrapix, CEA), active optics demonstrator
for Earth imaging (Rascasse, Cnes), retinal imaging (Inoveo, ANR), active interferometric
imaging (DGA), debris detection on landing runways (Drop, FUI) etc.
PUBLICATIONS
• Eight contributions to reference books;
• Six patents;
• 85 publications in international peer-reviewed journals;
• more than 175 communications in conference proceedings;
• complete list of publications and pdf copies available on laurent.mugnier.free.fr/publis/.
