Robert A. P. M. Van der Meer

Robert A. P. M. Van der Meer was a Dutch physicist renowned for his groundbreaking work in particle physics. He developed the technique of stochastic cooling, which significantly improved the ability to control and accelerate antiprotons—antimatter counterparts of protons—within particle accelerators. This innovation was crucial for experiments that led to the discovery of the W and Z bosons, fundamental particles that help explain the forces governing the universe. Van der Meer's contributions earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984, sharing the award with Carlo Rubbia, for their roles in advancing our understanding of particle physics.