Why Is Thouless Taking The Greater Share Of Nobel Prize Money?

Three scientists share this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics. Do you know how the prize money is going to be divided between the three?

“One half of the prize has been awarded to David Thouless, with Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz sharing the other half. The prize has been given “for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter”. The prize money is 8 million Kronor(which is 72700 Pound and roughly Rs 6 Cr).

According to the Nobel committee Thouless has been given a larger share because he made crucial contributions to both the advances (phase transitions and phases of matter) cited in the prize, reports The Guardian.

Topology, which was central to this year’s discoveries, explains why electrical conductivity inside thin layers changes in integer steps. Kosterlitz and Thouless studied the electrical behaviour of surfaces or inside extremely thin layers (physicists call these two-dimensional materials). Haldane studied matter that forms threads so thin they can be considered one-dimensional, reports The Guardian.

Don't get it? Watch member of Nobel committee explaining topology using a cinnamon bun, a bagel and a pretzel.

Member of the Nobel committee for physics explains topology using a cinnamon bun, a bagel and a pretzel https://t.co/gORO04UYam

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 4, 2016

Know interesting facts about Nobel Prize in Physics:

#NobelFacts the youngest Physics Laureate ever is Lawrence Bragg, 25 yrs when he was awarded the 1915 Physics Prize together with his father pic.twitter.com/B6pAEvw3gI

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 4, 2016

#NobelFacts The Physics Laureates are in average the youngest of all Laureates, average age: 55 pic.twitter.com/WZsEQIASZe

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 4, 2016