Physics Nobel honors pioneers of macroscopic quantum tunnelling

John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis were awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics on Tuesday for experiments that established macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced.

The laureates showed in the 1980s that behaviour typically confined to the sub-atomic realm could be observed in engineered superconducting systems, bringing the “bizarre” features of quantum mechanics into devices “big enough to hold in your hand,” the academy said. Their work opened pathways for next-generation quantum technologies, from cryptography and sensing to quantum computers.

Explaining the core idea, the academy noted that while a classical ball striking a wall simply bounces back, a quantum particle can pass straight through — a phenomenon known as tunnelling. By crafting circuits based on superconductors, the trio demonstrated that such effects could be reproduced at macroscopic scales and measured precisely.

Olle Eriksson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, praised the prize as a celebration of quantum theory’s enduring power and practical utility, calling quantum mechanics the foundation of modern digital technology. Clarke, 83, told reporters the announcement came as a “surprise,” adding the team initially focused on the physics without anticipating the breadth of applications.

The physics prize follows Monday’s medicine award and precedes chemistry, literature and the Nobel Peace Prize later in the week. Laureates will receive their medals and diplomas from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf at the December 10 ceremony in Stockholm.