In Caen in northwest France near the Normandy beaches, six laboratories involved in materials research have joined together to promote the scientific process; to discuss their topics, projects and results; and, more generally, to work together in an interdisciplinary way. The six laboratories that form the Association Normande de Recherches sur les Matériaux (ANOREM, or the Normandy Association for Materials Research) are the following:

■ Atomic Spectroscopy Laboratory

■ Catalysis and Spectrochemistry Laboratory,

■ Center for Interdisciplinary Research with Heavy Ions (CIRIL),

■ Molecular Chemistry Laboratory,

■ Crystallography and Materials Science Laboratory (CRISMAT), and

■ Materials Science Engineering

Laboratory (LERMAT).

These laboratories perform research on topics ranging from structural chemistry and radiation damage to high Tc superconductors and the European Hermes shuttle project.

Among the activities of the Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Atomique, the following two belong to the field of materials science:

1. Color center laser research, which spans Bridgman growth, shaping, polishing and coloring of active samples. Besides making “classical” samples, researchers are looking for new materials with improved stability against illumination and thermal bleaching. In particular, researchers are trying to master additive coloration of pure and doped NaF. (This crystal is usually colored by ionizing radiation since its coloration by additives is quite difficult.) There is a good prospect for building a flashlamp-pumped, tunable infrared laser operating at room temperature with a sample which would be “everlasting,” due to an in situ régénération of the active centers by the flashlamp itself. Studies are also being conducted on how to make alkali halide samples with multi-dielectric coatings (either anti-reflecting or mirror). Researchers are investigating such questions as: Should the coating be made before or after coloration? How does it adhere at liquid nitrogen temperatures? What precautions should be taken against attack by moisture?

2. Optical spectroscopy of defects created in insulating solids by impact of high energetic heavy ions. This research is a joint project with the GRIL and is described below.