Nobel Prize in Physics 2025: Three scientists honored for their pioneering research in the field of quantum

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Clarke of the University of California, Berkeley, Michel Devoret of Yale University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, and John M. Martinez of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized their pioneering contributions to the field by awarding them a prize for their discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and the quantization of energy in an electrical circuit, a monumental achievement in the quest to prove quantum phenomena at the human level.

For decades, a fundamental question in physics has been whether quantum mechanical effects, typically limited to atoms and subatomic particles, can be observed in larger concrete systems.

Pioneering experience

Clarke, Devoret, and Martinez made history by building superconducting circuits in the 1980s, using Josephson junctions, where the superconductor is separated by a thin insulating layer. Their experiments pushed the limits of what was thought possible, successfully demonstrating how large circuits can exhibit quantum effects.

By passing current through these circuits, they observed the behavior of the collective charge of the circuits not as isolated particles but as a unified, macroscopic quantum object. This pioneering work showed that their large circuits could undergo quantum tunneling, a process in which a quantum system passes through a barrier rather than jumping over it, defying classical physics.

Perhaps most surprisingly, the trio demonstrated that the energy states in their circuit were quantum. In line with predictions of quantum theory, the circuit absorbed and emitted energy only in discrete amounts, validating key quantum principles.

Their discovery effectively brought quantum physics out of the realm of microscopic particles and into the realm of engineering devices, rewriting textbooks and sparking a revolution in quantum technology. This work has laid the foundation for the development of quantum computers, cryptosystems, and ultra-sensitive quantum sensors, areas with far-reaching implications for the future of technology.

“It is wonderful to be able to celebrate the way century-old quantum mechanics is constantly offering new surprises,” said Ole Ericsson, Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics. Ericsson emphasized the laureates’ profound impact on the fundamentals of science and the future of digital technology.

The trio’s legacy is evident in modern technology, from the transistors and microchips that are integral to today’s devices to the promise of future technologies like quantum computers. These developments aim to solve problems that far exceed the capabilities of classical computing.

History of the Nobel Prizes

The Nobel Prizes, established by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel in 1896, include a cash prize of 11 million Swedish krona (more than 997,000 euros). Since its inception, 118 Nobel Prizes in Physics have been awarded, with notable recipients such as Marie Curie, one of only five women to have won the prize, receiving it in 1903.

Last year’s Nobel Prize in Physics went to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton, who were honored for their work in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The remaining 2025 Nobel Prizes, covering chemistry, literature and peace, will be announced later this week, and the economics prize is scheduled to be awarded on October 13.

Nobel laureates will receive their awards during a ceremony in Sweden in December this year, a highly anticipated event for both the scientific community and the general public.