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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as SubjectPublished as Subject

Simon Van der Meer

Photo

Dates

November 24, 1925 – March 4, 2011

Authorized Form of Name

Van der Meer, Simon, 1925-2011

Additional Forms of Names

Meer, Simon van der, 1925-2011

Biography

Abstract

Simon Van der Meer was awarded the 1984 Nobel Prize in Physics with Carlo Rubbia "for their decisive contributions to the large project, which led to the discovery of the field particles W and Z, communicators of weak interaction." He held a position at CERN for the majority of his career and made many significant contributions to the modern field of particle physics.

Important Dates

November 14, 1925Birth, Hague (Netherlands).

1952Researcher, Philips Research Laboratory (Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium), Eindhoven (Netherlands).

1952Obtained Degree in Electrical Engineering, Delft University of Technology (Technische Hogeschool Delft), Delft (Netherlands).

1956 – 1990Researcher, CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), Geneva (Switzerland).

1981Loeb Lecturer, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1982Awarded the Duddell Medal and Prize, Institute of Physics.

1984Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1984Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences.

1984Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics with Carlo Rubbia "for their decisive contributions to the large project, which led to the discovery of the field particles W and Z, communicators of weak interaction".

1991Member, Academia Europea.

March 4, 2011Death, Geneva (Switzerland).

Occupation

Particle physicist.

Places

Birth

Hague (Netherlands)

Graduate Education

Delft (Netherlands)

Employment

Eindhoven (Netherlands)

Geneva (Switzerland)

Death

Geneva (Switzerland)

Subjects

Particle physics.

Weak interactions (Nuclear physics).

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Adams, John Bertram, d. 1984

Advisor at CERN.

Billinge, Roy

Joint project lead with Van der Meer on collider project, CERN.

Rubbia, Carlo, 1934-

Shares 1984 Nobel Prize in Physics, "for their decisive contributions to the large project, which led to the discovery of the field particles W and Z, communicators of weak interaction."

Verhagen, C. J. D. M.

Advisor at Delft University of Technology.

Additional

Farley, F. J. M. (Francis James Macdonald)

Gregory, Bernard P. (Bernard Paul), 1919-1977

Hove, L. van (Leon)

Jentschke, Willibald

Weisskopf, Victor Frederick, 1908-2002

Institutions

Major Positions

European Organization for Nuclear Research

Researcher.

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Loeb Lecturer.

Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium

Researcher.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Academia Europaea

Member.

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Foreign Honorary Member.

Institute of Physics (Great Britain)

Awarded the Duddell Medal and Prize (1982).

Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen

Member.

Technische Hogeschool Delft

Received Degree in Electrical Engineering (1952).

Resources

Archival Resources

Subject

Timothy Ferris interviews conducted for the television program, CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE, circa 1982-1988.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Subject

CERN Courier article: Simon Van der Meer retires.

Simon Van der Meer Nobel Prize biography.

Simon Van der Meer Physics Today obituary.

Simon Van der Meer The Guardian obituary and biography.