# Michael Kosterlitz

> British-American physicist

**Wikidata**: [Q1700920](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1700920)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Michael_Kosterlitz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/michael-kosterlitz

## Summary

Michael Kosterlitz was born on June 22, 1943, in Aberdeen.[1][2] He holds citizenship in the United Kingdom and the United States.He is a physicist and university teacher. His education includes Gonville and Caius College, Robert Gordon's College, and Brasenose College.His religion is atheism. His awards include the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Maxwell Medal and Prize, Fellow of the American Physical Society, and the Lars Onsager Prize.[3][4][5][6][7].

## Summary
John Michael Kosterlitz is a British-American physicist and university teacher renowned for his contributions to condensed matter physics. He is best known for his work on the Kosterlitz–Thouless transition, a phase transition in the two-dimensional XY model. A recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, he holds affiliations with Brown University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.

## Biography
- **Born:** June 22, 1943
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom, United States
- **Education:** Brasenose College (University of Oxford), Gonville and Caius College (University of Cambridge), University of Birmingham
- **Known for:** Kosterlitz–Thouless transition (phase transition in the two-dimensional XY model)
- **Employer(s):** Brown University, University of Birmingham
- **Field(s):** Physics

## Contributions
Michael Kosterlitz's primary contribution to science is the discovery and characterization of the **Kosterlitz–Thouless transition**. This work describes a unique type of phase transition that occurs in the two-dimensional XY model, providing a fundamental understanding of how order can emerge in two-dimensional systems. This theoretical breakthrough has had a lasting impact on the field of condensed matter physics. Additionally, his body of work has been recognized by the awarding of the **Maxwell Medal and Prize** for outstanding contributions to theoretical physics and the **Lars Onsager Prize** from the American Physical Society.

## FAQs
**What is the Kosterlitz–Thouless transition?**
The Kosterlitz–Thouless transition is a phase transition that occurs in the two-dimensional (2-D) XY model, explaining how topological defects (vortices) unbind at a critical temperature.

**Where did Michael Kosterlitz complete his education?**
He attended the University of Birmingham, Brasenose College at the University of Oxford, and Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge.

**What awards has Michael Kosterlitz received?**
He has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Maxwell Medal and Prize from the Institute of Physics, and the Lars Onsager Prize from the American Physical Society.

**What are Michael Kosterlitz's professional affiliations?**
He is a university teacher and physicist employed by Brown University and the University of Birmingham, and he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.

**Does Michael Kosterlitz hold dual citizenship?**
Yes, he holds citizenship in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

## Why They Matter
Michael Kosterlitz matters because his theoretical work fundamentally changed the understanding of phase transitions in two-dimensional matter. Prior to the Kosterlitz–Thouless transition, it was believed that continuous symmetry breaking could not occur in two dimensions; his work demonstrated that order could exist through a different mechanism involving vortex pairs. This insight is crucial for explaining phenomena in thin films and superconductivity. His recognition with the Nobel Prize in Physics underscores the universal importance of this discovery to the physical sciences.

## Notable For
- **Nobel Prize in Physics:** Recipient of the yearly physics award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- **Kosterlitz–Thouless Transition:** Discovery of the phase transition in the two-dimensional (2-D) XY model.
- **Maxwell Medal and Prize:** Awarded by the Institute of Physics for outstanding contributions to theoretical physics.
- **Lars Onsager Prize:** Recipient of the award from the American Physical Society.
- **Academic Membership:** Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.
- **Dual Citizenship:** Holds citizenship in the United Kingdom and the United States.
- **Academic Affiliations:** Professor at Brown University and the University of Birmingham.

## Body

### Identity and Background
John Michael Kosterlitz, also known as John M. Kosterlitz, John Kosterlitz, or Mike Kosterlitz, is a human male and a scientist who specializes in physics. He was born on June 22, 1943. His professional identity is defined by his occupations as a physicist and a university teacher. He holds citizenship in two nations: the United Kingdom, an island country in north-west Europe, and the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America.

### Education
Kosterlitz's educational background includes attendance at several prestigious institutions in the United Kingdom. He studied at the **University of Birmingham**, a university located in Birmingham, England, which was established in 1900. He also attended **Brasenose College**, a constituent college of the University of Oxford founded in 1509. Furthermore, he is an alumnus of **Gonville and Caius College**, a college of the University of Cambridge that was established in 1348.

### Career and Affiliations
As a university teacher and physicist, Kosterlitz has been affiliated with major academic institutions. His employers include **Brown University**, a private university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, founded in 1765. He has also been associated with the **University of Birmingham**. His professional standing is evidenced by his membership in the **American Academy of Arts and Sciences**, an honorary society and policy research center in the United States established in 1780, and the **National Academy of Sciences**, the science branch of the United States National Academies established in 1863.

### Research and Contributions
Kosterlitz's field of work is physics, specifically theoretical physics. He is most notably associated with the **Kosterlitz–Thouless transition**, a concept describing a phase transition in the two-dimensional (2-D) XY model. This contribution represents a significant advancement in the understanding of condensed matter physics.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Kosterlitz has received numerous awards recognizing his scientific achievements. These include:
*   **Nobel Prize in Physics:** A yearly award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
*   **Maxwell Medal and Prize:** An annual award from the Institute of Physics (IOP) made for outstanding contributions to theoretical physics, mathematical or computational physics, intended to recognize physicists early in their careers.
*   **Lars Onsager Prize:** An award of the American Physical Society.

### Technical Identifiers
In academic and scientific databases, Kosterlitz is identified by various codes and IDs, including an ORCID ID (0000-0002-2608-6952), VIAF IDs (125145662623205031428, 1287149844991802960001), and ISNI (000000030840). His official website is hosted by Brown University (https://vivo.brown.edu/display/jkosterl).

## References

1. [The Nobel Prize in Physics 2016. nobelprize.org](http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2016/)
2. [The Nobel Prize amounts. nobelprize.org](https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/amounts/)
3. [Le Nobel de physique attribué à trois Britanniques pour leurs recherches sur la matière. 2016](https://www.lemonde.fr/prix-nobel/article/2016/10/04/le-prix-nobel-de-physique-attribue-a-david-thouless-duncan-haldane-et-michael-kosterlitz_5007939_1772031.html)
4. [Lars Onsager Prize. American Physical Society](https://www.aps.org/programs/honors/prizes/onsager.cfm)
5. [Source](https://www.aps.org/programs/honors/prizes/onsager.cfm)
6. Integrated Authority File
7. [J. Michael Kosterlitz Facts. nobelprize.org](https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2016/kosterlitz-facts.html)
8. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
9. Virtual International Authority File