The 2025 Physics Nobel: Macroscopic Quantum Effects and the Dawn of Quantum Engineering
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: General Science (Physics - Quantum Mechanics, Superconductivity); Science and Technology (Quantum Computing, Qubits); Current Events (Nobel Prizes).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (S&T): Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of Quantum Technology; Achievements of Indians in science & technology (understanding the global context is key).
Key Highlights from the News
2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three scientists: John Clarke, Michael Devoret, and John Martinis. 🏅
They proved that the peculiar laws of Quantum Mechanics can be manifested not just in microscopic particles, but also in large macroscopic electrical circuits visible to the naked eye.
Key Discoveries:
Macroscopic Quantum Tunnelling: They made it possible for particles to "tunnel" through a physical barrier in large circuits.
Unified Behavior: They found that billions of electrons in superconductors behave collectively like a single large "particle."
They conducted this revolutionary experiment in a circuit where two superconductors were separated by a Josephson junction.
This discovery paved the way for superconducting qubits, the fundamental building blocks of modern quantum computers.
This award highlights the importance of curiosity-driven basic research, which is not aimed at immediate practical applications.
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