2025 Nobel Prize in Physics Announced: Three Scientists Awarded for Significant Contributions in the Field of Quantum Mechanics
```
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been announced.
On October 7 local time, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decided to award the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics to scientists John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis, in recognition of their "discovery of macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy quantization in circuits." The laureates will equally share the prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately 8.36 million RMB).
According to official information, John Clarke was born in 1942 in Cambridge, UK. He obtained his PhD from Cambridge University in 1968. He is currently a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
Michel H. Devoret was born in 1953 in Paris, France. He obtained his PhD from the University of Paris-Sud in 1982. He is currently a professor at Yale University and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
John M. Martinis was born in 1958 and obtained his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in 1987. He is currently a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The full press release from the Nobel Foundation is as follows:
Their experiments on chips revealed the role of quantum physics
A major question in physics is what is the largest size of a system that can exhibit quantum mechanical effects. This year’s Nobel laureates conducted experiments with circuits, and in a system large enough to hold in your hand, they demonstrated quantum tunneling and quantized energy levels.
Quantum mechanics allows particles to pass directly through barriers via a process called tunneling. Once a large number of particles are involved, quantum mechanical effects usually become negligible. The laureates’ experiments proved that quantum properties can manifest concretely at a macroscopic scale.
In 1984 and 1985, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis conducted a series of experiments using electronic circuits constructed from superconductors, which are components that conduct electricity without resistance. In the circuit, the superconducting components are separated by a thin layer of non-conductive material—this setup is called a Josephson junction. By refining and measuring various properties of the circuit, they were able to control and explore phenomena generated as the current flowed through. The charged particles moved within the superconductor, collectively forming a system that behaved like a single particle filling the entire circuit.
This macroscopic quasi-particle system initially remained in a state where current flowed but no voltage was present. The system was trapped in this state, much like being stuck behind an insurmountable barrier. In the experiment, the system managed to escape the zero-voltage state via tunneling, displaying its quantum nature. The change of state was detected by the appearance of voltage.
The laureates were also able to prove that the system operated according to the predictions of quantum mechanics—it was quantized, meaning it could only absorb or emit specific amounts of energy.
"It's wonderful that quantum mechanics, with a history of over a hundred years, continues to bring new surprises. It is also extremely useful, as quantum mechanics is the foundation for all digital technology," said Ole Eriksson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics.
The transistors in computer microchips are examples of mature quantum technology all around us. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics brings opportunities for the development of the next generation of quantum technologies, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers, and quantum sensors.
Risk warning and disclaimerThe market involves risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute individual investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific situation. Investment made accordingly is at the user’s own risk. ```