Sweden, Oct 4 (IANS) British trio -- David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz -- on Tuesday won Nobel Prize in Physics "for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter".

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decided to award the prize to Thouless from the University of Washington in Seattle, Haldane from the Princeton University in New Jersey, US, and Kosterlitz from the Brown University in New Jersey as they have used "advanced mathematical methods to study unusual phases, or states, of matter, such as superconductors, superfluids or thin magnetic films".

It is because of their pioneering work that 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, said a statement at the official website of the Nobel Prize.