Physicists John Martinis and Michel DeVoletto from UC Santa Barbara, along with John Clark from Berkeley, have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions to quantum mechanics. Honored for “revealing Quantum Physics in Action,” they conducted groundbreaking experiments in the mid-1980s that demonstrated macroscopic quantum tunneling and quantized energy in electrical circuits using superconducting components.
Martinis expressed gratitude for the award, highlighting the collaborative effort of the global physics community in advancing superconducting qubits and the potential for building quantum computers. Ericson, chairman of the Nobel Committee, emphasized the ongoing significance of quantum mechanics in modern technology, including its applications in mobile devices and encryption.
Martinis, who earned his PhD under Clark’s guidance and has had a diverse career in academia and industry, now works at Qalab, a quantum computing startup. DeVolet has held several prominent positions in research and academia, most recently joining UC Santa Barbara and serving as a lead scientist at Google Quantum AI. The recognition marks a significant achievement for their campus and the broader field of physics, underscoring the lasting impact of their work on technology.
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