Martinus J. G. Veltman

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Martinus J.G.Veltman in 1967.
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Martinus Justinus Godefriedus Veltman (born June 27, 1931 in Waalwijk) is a Dutch theoretical physicist. He shared the 1999 Nobel Prize in physics with his former student Gerardus 't Hooft for their work on particle theory.

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[edit] Early years

Martinus J.G. Veltman was born in Waalwijk, Netherlands on June 27, 1931. He started studying mathematics and physics at Utrecht University in 1948 a time when the Second World War had torn scientific life to shreds. He obtained his PhD in theoretical physics in 1963 and became professor at Utrecht University in 1966.

[edit] Renormalization of Yang-Mills theory

In 1971, Gerardus 't Hooft, who was completing his PhD under the supervision of Veltman, renormalized Yang-Mills theory. They showed that if the symmetries of Yang-Mills theory were to be broken according to the method suggested by Peter Higgs of Edinburgh University, then Yang-Mills theory can be renormalized. Renormalization of Yang-Mills theory is one of the biggest achievements of twentieth century physics.

[edit] University of Michigan

In 1981, Veltman left Utrecht University for the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, frustrated by the recognition his student Gerardus 't Hooft got for his PhD thesis on the renormalization of Yang-Mills theory. Veltman felt that he had done most of the preliminary work and written the program which made the dissertation possible, and therefore should have been given more credit. However, most of the credit went to Gerardus 't Hooft.[1]

[edit] Nobel Prize

Veltman finally received his credit when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1999 together with 't Hooft. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1999 "for elucidating the quantum structure of electroweak interactions in physics", work done at Utrecht University.[2] Veltman and 't Hooft joined in the celebrations at Utrecht University when the prize was awarded.

[edit] Later years

Veltman is now retired and holds a position of Emeritus Professor at the University of Michigan. Asteroid 9492 Veltman is named in his honor.

In 2003, Veltman published a book about particle physics for a broad audience, entitled Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics.

[edit] References

[edit] External links