Context:
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for their pioneering experiments that deepened scientific understanding of the quantum world, particularly the phenomenon of quantum tunnelling.
About the Nobel Prize in Physics
- The Nobel Prize in Physics, first awarded in 1901, recognises outstanding contributions to the field of physical sciences that deepen our understanding of the universe.
- It is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- The 2025 prize includes a monetary award of 11 million SEK (≈ ₹8.5 crore).
2025 Laureates
| Name | Institution | Country | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Clarke | University of California, Berkeley | USA | Developed experimental methods to detect quantum effects in macroscopic systems |
| Michel H. Devoret | Yale University | USA | Advanced understanding of superconducting circuits and quantum coherence |
| John Martinis | University of California, Santa Barbara | USA | Built one of the first practical superconducting qubits for quantum computation |
Scientific Contribution
- The trio demonstrated macroscopic quantum tunnelling — a quantum phenomenon observable not just in atomic particles, but in large-scale electrical circuits.
- Their research established that energy in superconducting circuits can be quantised, behaving according to quantum mechanical laws rather than classical ones.
About Quantum Tunnelling
- Quantum tunnelling is a phenomenon where particles such as electrons can pass through energy barriers that they cannot cross under classical physics.
- Example: In classical terms, a ball rolling up a hill without enough energy would roll back — but in quantum mechanics, part of the ball’s wave function tunnels through the barrier, appearing on the other side.
- This principle is critical in semiconductors, nuclear fusion, and quantum devices.
