Van der Meer (Jan van der Meer)

Jan van der Meer was a Dutch scientist known for developing the method of stochastic cooling, which significantly advanced particle accelerator technology. Stochastic cooling allows scientists to reduce the random motion of charged particles within a beam, making it more focused and stable. This technique is essential for achieving high-density particle beams needed in experiments to study fundamental particles and forces. Van der Meer's innovations have been fundamental in particle physics research, including his contribution to discoveries at CERN, and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984.