Martin Venhart is a nuclear physicist who specializes in the study of atomic nucleus shapes. His research aims to resolve the long-standing mystery of atomic nucleus deformation and to reveal non-spherical nucleus shapes. Venhart’s team has recently identified a critical gap in the understanding of nuclear structure due to a lack of vital information about low-energy nucleon transitions.
In primary school, physics was his least favourite subject. Over time, however, he found his way to it. He was born in Trnava and he knew well that an education in nuclear physics could guarantee a job there – his father had also worked at the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant. But that was the issue for Martin Venhart: he wanted to make his own way, not just take over from his father, and so he chose a career in science.
During his career, he focused on research into nuclear deformation and energy transitions in atomic nuclei. „In 1975, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for a theoretical description of the motion of atomic nuclei and its connection to nuclear deformation. Aage Niels Bohr [one of that year’s laureates] was then asked at his Nobel lecture why nuclei are deformed. He replied that he did not know the cause. Nothing has changed since then and we still don’t know the answer. But without the road we are on, it will never be answered,“ Martin Venhart explains.
In 2021, his team found that a crucial piece of information about very low-energy transitions was missing from the entire mosaic of knowledge about nuclear deformation. This discovery has led to the recent submission of a proposal for an ERC Advanced Grant project to build a unique detection system capable of capturing these transitions. The development of this system could bring about breakthroughs not only in nuclear physics but also in nuclear medicine.
Martin Venhart has had a rich career that includes collaborations with major international institutions such as the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and CERN. His research journey has led him to many important discoveries, including the identification of entirely new structures in atomic nuclei.
In addition to his scientific achievements, Martin Venhart is also passionate about promoting physics. He regularly lectures at schools where he wants to inspire the younger generation of scientists. His path to nuclear physics has been full of interesting twists and turns, from a student lab in a basement to internationally renowned research facilities.
Despite his demanding job, he likes to find time for his hobbies. He is a former amateur pro cyclist who still enjoys cycling. He is also an avid ballroom dancer. He and his wife often attend theatre and ballet performances, their favourite places being the Viennese balls at the Hofburg or the State Opera.
