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British Trio Wins Nobel Prize In Physics For Study of Exotic Matter (theguardian.com)

Dave Knott writes: David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics on Tuesday for discoveries in condensed-matter physics that have transformed the understanding of matter that assumes strange shapes. All three were born in Britain but work in the United States. Using advanced mathematical models, the three scientists studied unusual phases, or states, of matter, such as superconductors, superfluids or thin magnetic films. Their findings have relevance for materials science and electronics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm awarded the prize for "theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter." Topology is a branch of mathematics that describes properties that change only in increments. In the early 1970s, Dr. Kosterlitz and Dr. Thouless "demonstrated that superconductivity could occur at low temperatures and also explained the mechanism, phase transition, that makes superconductivity disappear at higher temperatures," the academy found. In the 1980s, Dr. Thouless showed that the integers by which the conductivity of electricity could be measured were topological in their nature. Around that time, Dr. Haldane discovered how topological concepts could be used to understand the properties of chains of small magnets found in some materials. "We now know of many topological phases, not only in thin layers and threads, but also in ordinary three-dimensional materials," the academy said. "Over the last decade, this area has boosted front-line research in condensed matter physics, not least because of the hope that topological materials could be used in new generations of electronics and superconductors, or in future quantum computers."

6 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Haldane by Michael+Woodhams · · Score: 2

    Wikipedia was uninformative.
    I found a genealogy site with a page for JBS: https://www.geni.com/people/J-...
    Unfortunately, sometimes the links are to a 'private' person, at which point the chain is broken.
    JBS had a stepchild but no children of his own. His dad was famous, as were his dad's two brothers and his grandfather. One of those (Richard Burdon Sanderson Haldane) was a viscount and Lord Chancellor, but had no sons. The other, Sir William Stowell Haldane had three sons.

    William's sons: Thomas Graeme Nelson Haldane (1897-1981): a 'private' child and a son Richard W Haldane. Richard W has four children, all 'private', three of whom have different surnames so we can guess they were daughters.
    Archie Richard Burdon Haldane (1900-1982): two children, but they are listed 'private'
    Patrick Haldane (1893-1915): no children listed.

    So assuming the listings are accurate (no missing children), it is possible that the Nobel Laureate is descended from JBS's grandfather via JBS's uncle William.
    The Laureate's full name is Frederick Duncan Michael Haldane, and he goes by Duncan. This pattern of three first names, using the second, appears a number of times in JBS's family tree.

    --
    Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
  2. Worst Description of Topology ...Ever. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Then out came the Bagels....

    Face meet palm.

  3. Re:Exotic matter? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

    Not sure about exotic matter, but if there's a Nobel for studying exotic dancers, I've got it locked up.

    I volunteer to do peer review.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  4. Goddam furriners! by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    Trump will build the Atlantic Ocean and make the Limeys pay for it.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  5. Half a century late by KiloByte · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So they're rewarding NOW research from early 1970s. What's the point? The Nobel prize was designed to provide funds to the best scientists so they can continue research without wasting most of their time begging for sponsors(then)/grants(now). Instead, it degenerated into a list of "greatest minds of the last century who haven't still keeled over" that'd fit more in a random popsci colourful periodical.

    That, and the Political Correctness ("Peace") prize.

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    The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    1. Re:Half a century late by Shinobi · · Score: 2

      No, that's not what the Nobel price was about. It was a recognition reward, not an equivalent of a sponsorship or a grant, for discoveries in certain fields, as outlined by his will, that contributed the most to mankind(yes, that is SPECIFICALLY mentioned in the will that laid out the rules that govern the foundation). At the same time, the people involved in science have increased a couple of orders of magnitude. Also, some discoveries take decades to understand the exact worth. So you get awards like this.