Stockholm: The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for their groundbreaking experiments that revealed quantum phenomena in macroscopic systems, bridging the gap between the microscopic quantum world and the larger scale of everyday objects.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the trio’s pioneering work in the 1980s laid the foundation for understanding how quantum mechanical behavior can manifest in visible, measurable systems.
Their experiments using superconducting circuits demonstrated key quantum effects such as tunnelling and energy quantization in systems large enough to be observed directly.
The laureates share a prize of 11 million Swedish crowns. The Nobel Committee noted that their discoveries have opened new possibilities for future quantum technologies, including computing, cryptography, and precision sensing.
John Clarke, a British-American physicist, expressed surprise upon receiving the award, saying that quantum principles—once thought to apply only to the atomic scale—now play a role in technologies used in daily life, from smartphones to navigation systems.
Michel Devoret of Yale University and John Martinis, who led Google’s Quantum AI Lab, have been recognized for their contributions to building superconducting circuits that behave as coherent quantum systems. Their experiments proved that quantum behavior could persist in devices far larger than individual atoms, challenging traditional boundaries between quantum and classical physics.
The Nobel Foundation explained that the scientists used Josephson junctions—superconducting elements that can exhibit quantum tunnelling—to show that even macroscopic electrical circuits can display quantum properties. By applying microwaves to these circuits, the team observed discrete energy transitions, a clear sign of quantum behavior at a visible scale.
Experts say the experiments provided the scientific foundation for today’s quantum computing and sensing technologies. They also addressed one of physics’ most fundamental questions: at what scale does quantum behavior cease and classical physics take over?
Although their work dates back four decades, its impact has grown with the global race to develop practical quantum computers. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics recognizes not only a landmark scientific achievement but also a turning point in humanity’s quest to harness quantum mechanics for real-world applications.