British Nobel Prize Winner in Physics
List of U.K. Nobel Laureate in Physics
| Award winner | Award | Reason for the award |
| David James Thouless (born 1934) |
2016 | Together with the two British Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz for their theoretical research in the field of topological phase transitions and the topological phases of matter (exotic states of matter) |
| Frederick Duncan Michael Haldane (born 1951) |
2016 | Together with the two Britons David Thouless and Michael Kosterlitz for their theoretical research in the field of topological phase transitions and the topological phases of matter (exotic states of matter) |
| John Michael Kosterlitz (born 1942 in Scotland) |
2016 | Together with the two Britons David Thouless and Duncan Haldane for their theoretical research in the field of topological phase transitions and the topological phases of matter (exotic states of matter) |
| Peter Higgs (born 1929) |
2013 | Together with the Belgian François Englert for his theoretical work in the field of particle physics, Higgs had predicted the existence of a boson, which gives all other particles their mass, as early as the 1960s. Englert – independently of Higgs – postulated the underlying mechanism. In 2012, the Higgs boson was detected for the first time at the European Research Center Cern near Geneva |
| Konstantin Novoselov – Russian-British physicist (born 1974) |
2010 | Together with the Dutchman Andre Geim for basic experiments with the two-dimensional material graph |
| Charles Kuen Kao British-American researcher (born 1933) |
2009 | For his groundbreaking success in the field of light transmission using fiber optics for optical communication |
| Anthony James Leggett British-American researcher (born 1938) |
2003 | Together with the researchers Alexei Abrikossow and Witali Ginsburg: For groundbreaking work in the theory of superconductors and superfluids |
| Nevill Francis Mott (1905-1996) |
1977 | Together with the US colleagues Philip W. Anderson and John H. van Vleck: For the basic theoretical achievements on electronic structure in magnetic and disordered systems |
| Antony Hewish (born 1924) |
1974 | Together with his colleague Martin Ryle: For their pioneering work in radio astronomy: Ryle for his observations and inventions, especially in the opening up of technical syntheses and Hewish for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars |
| Martin Ryle (1918-1984) |
1974 | Together with his colleague Antony Hewish: For their pioneering work in radio astronomy: Hewish for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars and Ryle for his observations and inventions, especially in the opening up of technical syntheses |
| Brian D. Josephson (born 1940) |
1973 | For his theoretical prediction of supercurrent properties through a tunnel barrier, particularly those phenomena commonly known as the Josephson Effect |
| Dennis Gábor (1900-1979) |
1971 | For his invention and development of the holographic method |
| Max Born (1882-1970) |
1954 | For his fundamental research in quantum mechanics, especially for his statistical interpretation of the wave function |
| John Cockcroft (1897-1967 |
1951 | Together with Irishman Ernest Walton: For their pioneering work in the field of atomic nucleus conversion using artificially accelerated atomic particles |
| Cecil Powell (1903-1969) |
1950 | For the development of the photographic method for the investigation of nuclear processes and the associated discovery of the mesons |
| Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett (1897-1974) |
1948 | For the further development of the application of Wilson’s cloud chamber and the discoveries made with it in the field of nuclear physics and cosmic radiation |
| Edward Victor Appleton (1892-1965) |
1947 | For his research in the field of physics of the upper layers of the atmosphere, in particular for the discovery of the ionized layer named after him |
| George Paget Thomson (1892-1975) |
1937 | Together with the American Clinton Davisson: For their experimental discovery of the diffraction of electrons by crystals |
| James Chadwick (1891-1974) |
1935 | For the discovery of the neutron in 1932 |
| Paul Dirac (1902-1984) |
1933 | Together with the Austrian Erwin Schrödinger. For the discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory |
| Owen Willans Richardson (1879-1959) |
Awarded in 1928, received in 1929 |
For his work on the phenomena of thermo-ions and especially for the discovery of the law named after him |
| Charles Thomson Rees Wilson (1869-1959) |
1927 | For the discovery of the method of making the paths of electrically charged particles perceptible through steam condensation. (Wilson Chamber) |
| Charles Glover Barkla (1877-1944) |
Awarded in 1917, received in 1918 |
For his discovery of the characteristic X-rays of the elements |
| William Henry Bragg (1862-1942) |
1915 | Together with his son William Lawrence Bragg: For their services in researching crystal structures using X-rays |
| William Lawrence Bragg (1890-1971) |
1915 | Together with his father William Henry Bragg: For their services in researching crystal structures using X-rays |
| Joseph John Thomson (1856-1940) |
1906 | In recognition of the great merit he has earned through his theoretical and experimental investigations into the passage of electricity through gases |
| John William Strutt 3rd Baron Rayleigh (1842-1919 |
1904 | For his investigations into the density of the most important gases and his discovery of argon in connection with it |
