In a boost to the profile of quantum computing, the Nobel Prize Committee has awarded this year’s Physics prize to three pioneers in the field of quantum research: John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis, “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circuit”.

This was a significant development. It had long been recognized that quantum mechanics would allow a particle to move straight through a barrier, using this tunneling process. However, once large numbers of particles were sent through the barrier, it had not been possible to see any quantum mechanical effects. The prizewinners’ experiments changed all that: it showed that such properties could be observed on a larger scale. However, “macroscopic” in quantum terms still means a system that is small enough to be hand held.

In a statement, the Nobel committee said “The transistors in computer microchips are one example of the established quantum technology that surrounds us. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has provided opportunities for developing the next generation of quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers, and quantum sensors.”