John Clarke, Michel Devoret And John Martinis Win Nobel Prize In Physics

he Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced in Stockholm.

Olle Eriksson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said, “It is wonderful to be able to celebrate the way that century-old quantum mechanics continually offers new surprises. It is also enormously useful, as quantum mechanics is the foundation of all digital technology.”

The transistors in computer microchips are one example of the established quantum technology that surrounds us. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics, the committee noted, “has provided opportunities for developing the next generation of quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers and quantum sensors.”

Their pioneering discoveries proved that quantum effects, usually observable only at the atomic level, can also manifest in large-scale systems. This finding opened the door to major advances in quantum computing and the design of new quantum devices that could revolutionize information processing and security.

The prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately ₹1.03 crore) and will be presented at a ceremony on December 10 in Stockholm.

Nobel Prize announcements began Monday (October 6, 2025) with the award in Physiology or Medicine, given to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for identifying the immune system’s “security guards,” regulatory T cells. The winners for Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economic Sciences will be announced on October 8, 9, 10, and 13, respectively.

Previous Nobel Laureates In Physics

In 2024, the Physics Nobel was awarded jointly to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.”

In 2023, the prize went to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.”