Three University of California professors won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for bringing quantum mechanics out of the subatomic world. John Clarke of UC Berkeley, John Martinis of UC Santa Barbara, and Michel Devoret of UC Santa Barbara and Yale University will share the award. They showed that quantum rules can work in circuits large enough to hold in your hand.
Discovery of Quantum Tunneling in Circuits
According to SFGate, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honored the trio for „the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.“ Their work proved that quantum physics is not limited to atoms and subatomic particles.
In the mid-1980s, the three scientists built an electronic circuit from superconductors. They separated these materials with a thin nonconductive layer. This device is called a Josephson junction. By testing and measuring its properties, they showed the circuit could change states through quantum tunneling. The circuit also absorbed or released specific amounts of energy, proving it was quantised.
Impact on Modern Technology
The Nobel Committee for Physics chair Olle Eriksson praised the discovery in a news release. He said quantum mechanics continues to offer new surprises. He also noted that quantum mechanics forms the foundation of all digital technology.
Recognition and Future Applications
UC President James Milliken called the recognition a milestone for the university system. He said the research opened the door to next-generation quantum technologies. These include quantum cryptography, computers, and sensors. Milliken noted these breakthroughs will change drug discovery and stop cyberattacks.
Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis join 74 UC faculty who have won Nobel Prizes. They are the 23rd physics prize winners from UC. Clarke, 83, is an emeritus professor at UC Berkeley. Devoret, 72, teaches at both Yale and UC Santa Barbara. Martinis, 67, is an emeritus professor at UC Santa Barbara.
The three professors will share 11 million Swedish kronor, equal to about 1.17 million dollars. Their work showed that quantum mechanics can scale up from the tiny world of atoms to circuits we can see and touch.
