In theoretical physics, a Nielsen–Olesen vortex is a point-like object localized in two spatial dimensions or, equivalently, a classical solution of field theory with the same property. This particular solution occurs if the configuration space of scalar fields contains non-contractible circles. A circle surrounding the vortex at infinity may be "wrapped" once on the other circle in the configuration space. A configuration with this non-trivial topological property is called the Nielsen–Olesen vortex, after Holger Bech Nielsen and Poul Olesen (1973). The solution is formally identical to the solution of Quantum vortex in superconductor.