Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 Honors Pioneering Quantum Tunneling Research That Advances Digital Technology

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their groundbreaking discoveries in quantum mechanics, specifically for demonstrating macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy quantization in electrical circuits. Their work, conducted during the 1980s, showcased that quantum effects like tunneling are not confined to microscopic particles but can occur in larger, superconducting circuits that behave as single "superparticles." This breakthrough fundamentally laid the foundation for modern quantum computing and has broad implications for digital technology.

Quantum tunneling—the ability for particles to pass through energy barriers without classical interaction—was until recently thought to be limited solely to atomic-scale phenomena. The laureates' work revealed that tunneling phenomena could take place at a macroscopic level, a discovery that has reshaped understanding and applications of quantum physics.

The award coincides with 2025 being declared the International Year of Quantum Physics by the United Nations, marking 100 years since Werner Heisenberg's landmark contributions in 1925. Giulia Ripellino, a particle physicist at Uppsala University, emphasized the significance of this centenary timing and the prize's affirmation of quantum mechanics' continued role in science and technology.

Olle Eriksson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics, highlighted the ongoing surprises quantum mechanics offers and its fundamental role underpinning all digital technologies in use today. Clarke expressed his astonishment at receiving the prize, calling it "the biggest surprise of my life." Mats Larsson, a molecular physics professor, noted that their research is expected to impact various fields, including pharmaceuticals and digital streaming.

The Nobel Prize will be formally awarded on December 10, 2025, with each laureate receiving 11 million Swedish kronor. Their pioneering research not only broadens the horizons of quantum science but also drives the evolution of digital technologies vital to modern society.