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Three UK scientists share 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics

David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz were awarded 'for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter'

STOCKHOLM, October 4. /TASS/. Three British scientists currently working in the US won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics "for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter", the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Tuesday.

David J. Thouless (University of Washington) was awarded half the prize, while the other half was divided between F. Duncan M. Haldane (Princeton University) and J. Michael Kosterlitz (Brown University).

"This year’s Laureates opened the door on an unknown world where matter can assume strange states. They have used advanced mathematical methods to study unusual phases, or states, of matter, such as superconductors, superfluids or thin magnetic films. Thanks to their pioneering work, the hunt is now on for new and exotic phases of matter. Many people are hopeful of future applications in both materials science and electronics," the academy said in a statement.

The Nobel Prize is worth 8 million Swedish crowns ($933,000). The awards ceremony will traditionally take place on December 10.