"My interest in matters more directly concerned with the handling of particles was growing, in the meantime, stimulated by many contacts with people understanding accelerators"

Simon van der Meer was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who made significant contributions to the advancement of particle accelerators. In this quote, he is reviewing his growing interest in the field of particle physics. He keeps in mind that his interest was promoted by his interactions with people who had a deep understanding of accelerators. This suggests that he was influenced by the knowledge and expertise of those around him, and that he was eager to get more information about the field. His enthusiasm for the subject is evident, and it is clear that he was enthusiastic about the potential of particle accelerators. His quote is a testament to the power of cooperation and the value of learning from those around us.