The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to a trio of scientists for their groundbreaking work in demonstrating quantum mechanics on a macroscopic scale.
John Clarke of the University of California, Berkeley, Michel H. Devoret of Yale University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, and John M. Martinis of the University of California, Santa Barbara, will share the prestigious award “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.” Their experiments, conducted on a chip large enough to be held, have profound implications for the future of quantum technology.
Bridging the Quantum and the Classical
A central question in physics has been the boundary between the microscopic world, governed by the strange rules of quantum mechanics, and the macroscopic world we experience daily. Quantum effects are typically observed at the atomic and subatomic levels and tend to disappear in larger systems. However, the work of Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis has shown that quantum phenomena can be observed in a tangible, engineered system.
Their experiments revealed that an electrical circuit can behave as a single macroscopic entity, exhibiting two key quantum effects:
* Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling: In classical physics, an object cannot pass through a barrier without having enough energy to overcome it. However, in the quantum realm, particles can “tunnel” through such barriers. The laureates demonstrated this phenomenon in an electrical circuit, where the entire system transitioned from a zero-voltage state to a state with voltage by tunneling through an energy barrier.
* Energy Quantization: Quantum mechanics dictates that energy can only be absorbed or emitted in discrete amounts, or “quanta.” The trio’s work confirmed that their macroscopic circuit adhered to this principle, only absorbing and releasing specific amounts of energy, much like an atom.
The Ingenious Experiment
The foundation of their groundbreaking experiments, conducted in 1984 and 1985, was an electrical circuit built with superconductors—materials that can conduct electricity with no resistance. A key component of this circuit was the Josephson junction, where two superconducting materials are separated by a very thin insulating layer.
By carefully controlling and measuring the properties of this circuit, the team was able to observe the collective behavior of a vast number of charged particles. This macroscopic system of particles acted as a single entity, allowing for the direct observation of quantum effects on a scale previously thought impossible.
Paving the Way for a Quantum Future
The significance of this research extends far beyond a deeper understanding of quantum mechanics. As noted by Olle Eriksson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, “This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has provided opportunities for developing the next generation of quantum technology.”
The ability to create and control quantum states in macroscopic circuits is a fundamental building block for a range of revolutionary technologies, including:
* Quantum Computers: These devices leverage quantum phenomena to perform calculations far beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful supercomputers.
* Quantum Cryptography: This technology promises unhackable communication systems by using the principles of quantum mechanics to secure information.
* Quantum Sensors: These highly sensitive instruments can detect minute changes in their environment, with applications in fields ranging from medical diagnostics to navigation.
The work of Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis has not only answered a long-standing question in physics but has also opened the door to a new era of technological innovation powered by the principles of quantum mechanics.
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Source: nobelprize.org