University physics Prof. emeritus Martinus Veltman won the Nobel Prize for physics on Monday, marking the first time a University staff member has received the prestigious international award.
"You don't dream for things like this," 69-year-old Veltman said yesterday from his home in the Netherlands.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the deemers of Nobel Prizes, recognized Veltman's particle physics theory on firmer mathematical foundations, which he completed between 1969 and 1971 while at the University of Utrecht in Holland.
Veltman retired from the University in 1997 after serving 16 years in the physics department, where he specialized in applied physics.
Veltman plans to write a book explaining his theories.
His research is an "extension of the mathematical models that are used to explain what particles do," he said.
Veltman's findings have enabled physicists to predict mathematically properties of the sub-atomic particles that make up all matter in the universe and the forces that hold these particles together.
His theories also laid a foundation for the discovery of quarks in 1995 by a group including Veltman's University colleague Homer Neal, a physics professor and former interim University president.
Veltman's work has been crucial to further understand nature and the universe, said colleague and physics Prof. Myron Campbell.
"We made a big stride forward," Veltman said.
No one quite knows who nominated Veltman and his co-winner Prof. Gerardus t' Hooft of the University of Utrecht.
"It is a unique system where anybody can nominate anybody, we do not know who nominated Veltman or how many times he was nominated and was not successful," said Ctirad Uher, chair of the physics department.
"The entire institution should be delighted. Veltman is a high achieving scientist, and this award is the product of 15 years of research," Uher said.
While at the University, Veltman "drew a very strong graduate and undergraduate population," Uher said.
Veltman had an "attitude of the utmost scientific standards and rigors, which he injected into his students," Uher said.
During his 16-year stay at the University, Veltman graduated five doctoral students.
"Veltman can work effectively and get his ideas listened to," said physics Prof. Jens Zorn.
Long-time friend and colleague Ratin Akhoury said "this piece of work is absolutely very fundamental, and eventually many people will recognize Veltman because of this award."
The opportunity to work with Veltman "gave us great insight into what the correct directions in physics are. We all tried to learn from him," said Akhoury, who is also a physics professor at the University.
University President Lee Bollinger also expressed his regards toward Veltman for his accomplishments.
"This is an extraordinary moment for Dr. Veltman and we congratulate him on this recognition of his definitive contributions to theoretical particle physics," Bollinger said in a written statement.
Veltman plans to arrive in Ann Arbor next Tuesday for a reception in his honor. Bollinger and the physics department plan to host the event.
Veltman also is scheduled to give a lecture, providing an overview of his research and talking about the Nobel Prize. It is tentatively planned for Thursday, Oct. 20 or Friday, Oct. 21.
- Daily Staff Reporter Yael Kohen contributed to this report.
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