John Michael Kosterlitz is a distinguished theoretical physicist renowned for his paradigm-shifting contributions to condensed matter physics. He currently holds the Harrison E. Farnsworth Professorship of Physics at Brown University, where he has been a faculty member since 1982. Born in Aberdeen, United Kingdom in 1943, Kosterlitz received his BA and MA degrees from Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University before earning his PhD from Oxford University in 1969. His formative academic journey included influential positions at Cornell University where he collaborated with Michael Fisher and David Nelson, and later at Birmingham University, where he developed the foundational work that would revolutionize the understanding of phase transitions in two-dimensional systems.
Kosterlitz's most significant contribution, developed with David Thouless in the early 1970s, introduced topological methods to explain phase transitions in two-dimensional materials, a phenomenon now known as the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. Their theoretical framework demonstrated how extremely thin materials can transition between exotic states through the behavior of paired vortices and anti-vortices, challenging previously accepted theories about two-dimensional systems. This seminal work, which has been cited over 6,600 times according to Brown University, fundamentally reshaped condensed matter physics by revealing how matter can assume previously unrecognized states at low temperatures. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized this transformative contribution when awarding Kosterlitz the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, noting that 'this year's Laureates opened the door on an unknown world where matter can assume strange states' and that 'thanks to their pioneering work, the hunt is now on for new and exotic phases of matter.'
Beyond his Nobel-winning research, Kosterlitz has maintained an influential research program spanning condensed matter theory, phase transitions in random systems, and critical dynamics including melting and freezing phenomena. His theoretical insights have catalyzed extensive research into topological phases of matter with potential applications in materials science and quantum computing, inspiring generations of physicists to explore previously uncharted territories in physics. As a Fellow of the American Physical Society since 1992 and recipient of prestigious honors including the Maxwell Medal and the Lars Onsager Prize, Kosterlitz continues to shape the field through his scholarly contributions and mentorship. His work remains foundational to ongoing investigations into exotic quantum states that may enable future technological breakthroughs in electronic devices and advanced materials science.
