The Nobel Prize in Physics took place this Tuesday, October 4. It distinguishes scientific figures who have rendered great services to humanity through their work. During this new edition, quantum physics was honored. A rapidly evolving discipline, quantum science is progressively forging links with AI, which it will increasingly come across on its way.

Three eminent scientists, the American John F. Clauser, 79 years old, the Austrian Anton Zellinger, 77 years old, and the Frenchman Alain Aspect, 75 years old, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on quantum mechanics.

On Tuesday, October 4, three new nominees for the Nobel Prize in Physics received the most prestigious award in their discipline, as well as the reward of 10 million Swedish kronor (nearly 930,000 euros). The three awarded scientists, John F. Clauser, Anton Zellinger and Alain Aspect, receive the prize for their advances in quantum physics. They propose revolutionary mechanisms for this future field.

Quantum entanglement is the reason for their success: this mechanism involves two quantum particles that are perfectly correlated, regardless of the distance between them. Several applications of particle correlation are possible, in fields such as quantum computing, ultra-secure communications, or ultra-sensitive quantum sensors.

According to the Nobel jury, “Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger have each conducted groundbreaking experiments using entangled quantum states. According to the jury, these experiments open a pioneering path towards quantum computing.

This work contradicts the position of Albert Einstein, who did not believe in this mechanics, even though it was predicted by the quantum theory.

This award is part of the week of distinctions in various fields, with the award of the Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday, October 3. In the rest of the week, the Nobel Prizes for Chemistry, Literature and Peace will be awarded. The Nobel Prize in Economics will be awarded early next week.

Translated from Trois pionniers du monde quantique récompensés par le prix Nobel de physique