Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 awarded to three scientist

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their groundbreaking work in demonstrating macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circuit. Their pioneering experiments, conducted in the mid-1980s, have laid the foundation for modern quantum technologies, including quantum computing and advanced sensors.

What Did They Discover?

In 1984 and 1985, Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis conducted experiments using superconducting circuits—specifically, Josephson junctions. These circuits, separated by a thin insulating layer, allowed for the observation of quantum phenomena on a macroscopic scale. Their key findings include:

• Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling: They demonstrated that superconducting currents could tunnel through insulating barriers without resistance, a phenomenon previously observed only in microscopic systems.
• Energy Quantization: By applying microwave pulses, they induced quantized energy levels in the circuits, akin to those in atomic systems.

These discoveries bridged the gap between theoretical quantum mechanics and practical applications, paving the way for technologies that harness quantum properties.

Why Does It Matter?

The implications of their work are profound:

• Quantum Computing: Their research contributed to the development of superconducting qubits, the building blocks of many modern quantum computers.
• Quantum Sensors: The principles they uncovered have led to the creation of ultra-sensitive devices used in various scientific and medical applications.
• Quantum Cryptography: Their findings have influenced the development of secure communication systems based on quantum principles.

As Michel Devoret noted, while practical quantum computers have yet to be fully realized, their work has laid the essential groundwork for future advancements in quantum technologies.

Meet the Laureates

John Clarke

A professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, Clarke’s research focuses on superconductivity and superconducting electronics. He is known for developing superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), which are ultrasensitive detectors of magnetic flux.

Michel H. Devoret

Currently serving as the Chief Scientist of Quantum Hardware at Google Quantum AI, Devoret’s work has been instrumental in advancing quantum computing technologies. He has received several prestigious awards, including the John Stewart Bell Prize in 2013.

John M. Martinis

A former leader of Google’s Quantum AI hardware team, Martinis now heads his own company focused on quantum technologies. His doctoral research under John Clarke led to the pivotal experiments that earned him the Nobel Prize.