A. C. W. F. van der Meer

A. C. W. F. van der Meer was a Dutch physicist renowned for developing a technique called stochastic cooling, which significantly advanced particle physics research. This method allows scientists to reduce the random motion of particles in high-energy beams, making them more concentrated and precise. His work was crucial for enabling experiments that led to the discovery of the W and Z bosons, fundamental particles that explain weak nuclear interactions. Van der Meer’s contributions earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984, highlighting his importance in advancing our understanding of the universe’s fundamental forces.