Science & Technology

'Exotic matter' trio win physics Nobel Prize

By T.K. Randall
October 4, 2016

Image: Artist's Impression of the Dust Surrounding a Supernova Explosion
Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser / CC BY 4.0 (adapted) David Thouless, Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz were joint-recipients of the much coveted physics award for discoveries that have "opened the door on an unknown world."

Their work had focused on using mathematics to explain the peculiar physical effects observed in exotic states of matter such as superconductors, superfluids and thin magnetic films.

Their findings have also made it possible for scientists to develop new types of materials."Today's advanced technology - take for instance our computers - relies on our ability to understand and control the properties of the materials involved," said chairman Prof Nils Martensson.

"And this year's Nobel laureates in their theoretical work discovered a set of totally unexpected regularities in the behaviour of matter, which can be described in terms of an established mathematical concept - namely, that of topology."

"This has paved the way for designing new materials with novel properties and there is great hope that this will be important for many future technologies."

Source: BBC News

Tags: Nobel Prize, Exotic Matter