Physicist John Reppy wins Buckley Prize

John Reppy, John L. Wetherill Professor of Physics Emeritus in the College of Arts & Sciences, has received the 2026 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize. The award, which recognizes and encourages outstanding theoretical or experimental contributions to condensed matter physics, consists of $20,000 and is awarded annually.

The award committee said Reppy received the prize for his "groundbreaking experiments" with helium, uncovering the role of vortices in the superfluid phase transition in helium films and establishing "the significance of topological excitations in two-dimensions." Reppy was recognized along with David Bishop, Ph.D. '78, for research they did on helium 50 years ago; two others were honored for more recent research on the topic.

"It is a great honor and a complete surprise," said Reppy.

"The Buckley Prize, a major international honor in condensed matter physics, is a tremendous distinction for John Reppy and David Bishop, as well as for the department and for Cornell University," Julia Thom-Levy, professor and chair of physics (A&S) said. "Their work has influenced many branches of physics within our department and beyond, and we are very proud to count them among our colleagues."

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.