In 1956 he received a degree from the École normale supérieure (Paris) in Physical Sciences.

In 1960, he entered French National Centre for Scientific Research in the Sciences of the Universe section where he completed his doctoral thesis under the direction of Jacques Blamont.

He was interested in the optical effects of atmospheric turbulence and developed high angular resolution interferometric observation methods with his spouse Claude Roddier.

In 1988 he moved to the Institute for Astrophysics at the University of Hawaii where he created a group for the research and development of adaptive optics.

This group built the first adaptive optics system based on bimorph deformable mirrors and curvature sensors.