Nobel Laureate John Clarke Reflects on 2025 Physics Win and Macroscopic Quantum Tunnelling Breakthrough

In a heartfelt telephone interview moments after the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was announced, Professor John Clarke voiced his astonishment and gratitude at sharing the prestigious award with John Martinis and Michel Devoret. Clarke, one of the pioneers behind the demonstration of macroscopic quantum tunnelling, emphasized the essential collaboration with Martinis and Devoret, describing their partnership as a “magical combination” that fueled groundbreaking discoveries forty years ago at Berkeley.

Clarke reminisced about the creative synergy that defined their experiments, crediting the Nobel Committee for recognizing the trio’s collective achievements. He fondly recalled collegial exchanges and intellectual influences, notably fellow physicist Brian Josephson and mentor Sir Brian Pippard, who shaped his scientific outlook. Clarke reflected that although their work was celebrated at the time, the profound impact it has had on quantum science over decades was beyond their imagination.

As Clarke prepares for a day of celebratory events, his reflections highlight the enduring spirit of collaboration that drives scientific advancement, and the continued significance of macroscopic quantum tunnelling in the physics community.

Source and Reference:

First reactions | John Clarke, Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 | Telephone interview on YouTube