David Thouless, Mike Kosterlitz, the Nobel Prize and the Birmingham Condensed Matter Group
Photo credit: Nobel Prize
During their time in Birmingham, theorists David Thouless and Mike Kosterlitz interacted frequently with experimentalists in the Condensed Matter Group. The work for which they received the prize was carried out in Birmingham. Their original paper putting forward their ideas in 1972 acknowledges discussion with Prof. Joe Vinen, still active in our Group.
David did other important work here, including opening up the idea of the
He showed how superconductivity in a magnetic field disappears under the influence of thermal fluctuations and acknowledged stimulating discussions with Prof. Colin Gough.
David's book on Topological Quantum Numbers in Nonrelativistic Physics cites the work by many in the Group, including also Drs Mark Colclough, Alastair Rae and Chris Muirhead in first measuring the “flux quantum” h/2e in a High-Tc superconductor, and also work in Birmingham by Chris Muirhead and Joe Vinen on quantized vortices attached to ions in superfluid helium.
We feel that this shows the stimulating environment that Mike Kosterlitz and David Thouless enjoyed while they were in Birmingham, and that we can share a small amount of reflected glory from the Nobel Prize they most deservedly won by their work here.
Some members of the group have participated in a radio programme prepared by Sverige Radio on Prof. Thouless and his work.