The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their pioneering experiments that revealed quantum mechanical phenomena on a macroscopic scale. Their work demonstrated that quantum effects, previously observed only in microscopic systems, can be detected and controlled in larger, everyday-sized circuits.
In the mid-1980s, the trio conducted experiments using a centimeter-sized superconducting chip, showing that quantum tunneling and energy quantization could occur in an electric circuit. These findings have significant implications for the development of next-generation quantum technologies, including quantum computers, sensors, and cryptographic systems.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized their contributions as a crucial step toward bridging the gap between quantum mechanics and practical applications, paving the way for advancements in quantum technology.