In a truly astounding achievement, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis have been jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Announced on Tuesday in Sweden, their pioneering research revealed how two fundamental principles of quantum mechanics—the often-mystifying laws governing the subatomic world—could astonishingly be observed in systems large enough to be seen without microscopic aid. This incredible breakthrough earns them a shared prize of 11 million Swedish Kronor, approximately $1.17 million.
Olle Eriksson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics, emphasized the profound impact of quantum mechanics during the announcement. "Today, every piece of advanced technology relies fundamentally on quantum mechanics," he stated. Indeed, the laureates’ transformative discoveries laid essential groundwork for everyday innovations, from the smartphones in our pockets to sophisticated cameras and high-speed fiber optic networks.
Their work didn’t stop there; it also significantly advanced the ongoing quest to build quantum computers. These revolutionary devices promise to compute and process information at speeds far beyond the capabilities of any classical computer known today.
Why Were They Chosen for This Prestigious Award?
The three scientists were recognized for a series of elegant experiments conducted in 1984 and 1985. Through their work, they definitively proved the existence of two key quantum phenomena within a system visible to the human eye, challenging the conventional understanding that these effects were limited to microscopic scales.
The principles of quantum mechanics describe the strange properties and behaviors of single or small collections of elementary particles. One such peculiar behavior is ‘quantum tunneling,’ where a particle can seemingly pass through a barrier even if it doesn’t possess enough energy to do so. Until their research, this phenomenon had only been observed and confirmed at extremely small scales.
Another defining characteristic of subatomic particles is that they can only emit and absorb energy in fixed, discrete amounts, much like steps on a ladder rather than a continuous ramp. This fundamental concept is known as the quantization of energy.
However, when dealing with a large number of particles, these minuscule quantum effects typically cancel out or become too insignificant to observe. This is precisely why humans, composed of trillions of atoms, cannot simply tunnel through walls.
Yet, the laureates of this year’s physics prize achieved a remarkable feat: they demonstrated, for the very first time, that quantum tunneling could be observed in a ‘macroscopic’ system. As they described it in their scientific paper, this system was "big enough to get one’s grubby fingers on." Furthermore, they also showed that the energy of this macroscopic system was quantized, existing at distinct, fixed levels.
They made these profound discoveries by meticulously studying a chip containing a superconducting circuit. In this unique state, the circuit could conduct current with absolutely no electrical resistance. The current effectively became ‘trapped’ in a continuous flow without any voltage, akin to being behind a barrier it lacked the classical energy to cross, as explained in a summary released by the Nobel committee.
The researchers observed the current spontaneously transition from a state of zero voltage to one of non-zero voltage, a direct observation of quantum tunneling. Additionally, they noted that the system exclusively absorbed light of specific frequencies, providing compelling evidence that its energy was indeed quantized.
Who Are the Brilliant Minds Behind These Discoveries?
All three laureates are distinguished professors at American universities. John Clarke, a Cambridge University alumnus, has been a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, since 1969 and is now professor emeritus at the university’s graduate school.
Michel H. Devoret, originally from Paris where he earned his Ph.D., currently serves as a professor emeritus in applied physics at the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science.
John M. Martinis, who received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, previously taught at the university before his tenure with Google’s quantum A.I. team. He is also a professor emeritus of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Notably, at the time of their pivotal experiments, Dr. Clarke mentored Dr. Devoret, who was then a postdoctoral researcher, and Dr. Martinis, who was a graduate student.
The impact of the work by Dr. Devoret and Dr. Martinis has extended well beyond academic circles into practical application.
In 2014, Google recruited Dr. Martinis and many of his research colleagues from the University of California, Santa Barbara. At Google, his team successfully built a machine that achieved what was hailed as "quantum supremacy," a significant benchmark in the decades-long pursuit of developing a functional quantum computer.
Dr. Martinis left Google in 2020 and subsequently co-founded Qolab, a quantum computing startup, in 2022.
Today, Dr. Devoret holds the position of chief scientist in Google’s quantum computing division. He plays a crucial role as the tech giant, along with other industry and academic labs, races to realize the immense potential of this enigmatic and powerful technology. A fully functional quantum computer could revolutionize drug discovery, accelerate scientific research, and even pose a threat to existing encryption methods vital for national security.
What Did the Laureates Say About Their Nobel Win?
During the award announcement, the Nobel committee managed to reach Dr. Clarke by phone. "To put it mildly, it was the surprise of my life," he expressed, clearly stunned by the recognition. "I’m completely stunned."
He further added that it had never crossed his mind that their discoveries "might be the basis of a Nobel Prize."
Who Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024?
Last year, John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton shared the prize for their pivotal work on discoveries that advanced how computers learn, mirroring processes in the human brain. Their contributions formed foundational building blocks for modern developments in artificial intelligence.
Who Else Has Won a Nobel Prize This Year?
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday. They were recognized for their discoveries of peripheral immune tolerance, explaining how the immune system prevents rogue cells from attacking the body’s own tissues and organs.
When Will the Other Nobel Prizes Be Announced?
The prize for physiology or medicine marked the first of six Nobel Prizes to be awarded this year. Each award celebrates groundbreaking contributions by an individual or organization in a specific field.
- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be announced on Wednesday by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. Last year, the prize was awarded to Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker for their work demonstrating the potential of artificial intelligence and other technologies to predict and even invent new protein shapes.
- The Nobel Prize in Literature will be revealed on Thursday by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. In the previous year, Han Kang, widely acclaimed for her novel “The Vegetarian,” became the first writer from South Korea to receive this esteemed award.
- The Nobel Peace Prize will be presented on Friday by the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. Last year, the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors, was honored "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.”
- Next week, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be awarded on Monday by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. Last year, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson were recognized for their research into how institutions shape which countries achieve wealth and prosperity, and the historical origins of those structures.
All of the prize announcements are streamed live by the Nobel Prize organization.