Van der Meer (Nuclear Physics)

Van der Meer, in nuclear physics, refers to the method developed by Simon van der Meer to precisely measure the overlap of particle beams in a collider. By moving one beam across the other and measuring interaction rates at various positions, scientists determine the beams’ spatial profiles. This allows accurate calculation of the beam luminosity, which is essential for determining how many particle collisions occur. Van der Meer's technique revolutionized particle accelerator experiments, providing a reliable way to measure collision rates and improving the precision of fundamental physics measurements, such as those conducted at CERN.