Nobel Prize laureates in physics announced

Nobel Laureates in Physics 2016

Nobel laureates in physics were announced today in Stokkolm, Sweden. Three British scientists received the prize for their contribution to the development of this science: David Thouless, Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz for the “theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter”.

The results of their work allowed the scientific community to better explain such phenomena as superconductivity, superfluidity and magnetism of two-dimensional materials (two-dimensional means materials consisting of atomic layers). The relevant information is posted on the official website of the Nobel Prize .

Topology is a branch of mathematics that studies the phenomenon of continuity , in particular, the properties of spaces that remain unchanged during continuous deformations. For example, connectivity and orientability .
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Scientists went to their award for more than forty years. Back in the 70s, Michael Kosterlitz, David Tauless and Vadim Berezinsky, experimentally refuted the then theory that two-dimensional materials cannot have superconductivity. They proved the possibility of superconductivity at extremely low temperatures and the associated phase transition phenomenon, which disappears with increasing temperature. The phenomenon they discovered was named after the Berezinsky-Kosterlitz-Taules transition (TKT transition) or simply a topological phase transition in honor of the researchers.

We should also mention the Soviet theoretical physicist Vadim Berezinsky (06/15/1935 - 06/23/1980) who took part in the work. A native of Kiev, in 1959 he graduated from the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University, in 1963 - graduate school MEPI, doctor of physical and mathematical sciences. His most important works are works on the theory of phase transitions in two-dimensional systems and the theory of localization in disordered one-dimensional conductors. The works of the scientist are available on the website of the Institute of Theoretical Physics. L.D. Landau , where Vadim Lvovich worked the last years of his life (from 1977 to 1980).

In the 80s, Touless confirmed an earlier experiment with thin conductive layers. Then he recorded that the conductivity still has a topological nature. At about the same time, Duncan Haldane proved that topological concepts can be used to explain the properties of chains of small magnets found in some materials.

In recent decades, research in this area has seriously progressed. Studying topological phase transitions gives physicists hope for the invention of a superconductor and a quantum computer.

Between themselves, physicists will share not only fame, but also a monetary reward from the Nobel Committee, which this year amounted to 8 million Swedish crowns (about 931 thousand US dollars).