Martinus J.G. Veltman

Facts

Martinus J.G. Veltman

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Martinus J.G. Veltman
The Nobel Prize in Physics 1999

Born: 27 June 1931, Waalwijk, the Netherlands

Affiliation at the time of the award: , Bilthoven, the Netherlands

Prize motivation: "for elucidating the quantum structure of electroweak interactions in physics."

Prize share: 1/2

Work

According to modern physics, four fundamental forces exist in nature. Electromagnetic interaction is one of these. The weak interaction - responsible, for example, for the beta decay of nuclei - is another. In the 1960s, a unified theory was formulated for these two forces: the electroweak interaction. However, certain problems still remained to be solved. In the early 1970s, Martinus Veltman and Gerardus t'Hooft formulated and tested a mathematical theory that further explained the electroweak interaction.

To cite this section
MLA style: Martinus J.G. Veltman – Facts. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2018. Wed. 14 Nov 2018. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1999/veltman/facts/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Learn more

Nobel Prizes 2018

This year 12 new laureates have been awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. Their work and discoveries range from cancer therapy and laser physics to developing proteins that can solve humankind’s chemical problems. The work of the 2018 Nobel Laureates also included combating war crimes, as well as integrating innovation and climate with economic growth. Find out more.
Nobel prizes burgundy 2018

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.