Kosterlitz and Thouless: ordering and phase transitions in two dimensions

What changed

Developed a topological-defect account of ordering and phase-transition behavior in two-dimensional systems, including vortex-pair binding and unbinding.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact 1973 Journal of Physics C paper. Berezinskii’s antecedent work, later renormalization-group treatments, experimental demonstrations and applications to specific materials remain separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact 1973 Journal of Physics C paper. Berezinskii’s antecedent work, later renormalization-group treatments, experimental demonstrations and applications to specific materials remain separate.

Contributors

• J. M. Kosterlitz · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• D. J. Thouless · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• CiNii record for Kosterlitz and Thouless 1973
• Crossref record for the two-dimensional transition paper

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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