Nobel physics prize awarded to U.S.-based trio for discoveries in quantum mechanics

Three U.S.-based scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for their discoveries in quantum mechanics.

Three U.S.-based scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for their discoveries in quantum mechanics.

The award was given to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis for “experiments that revealed quantum physics in action,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

“To put it mildly, it was the surprise of my life,” Clarke, 83, told reporters at the announcement by phone after having been told of his win.

He paid tribute to the other two laureates, saying that “their contributions are just overwhelming.”

“Our discovery in some ways is the basis of quantum computing. Exactly at this moment where this fits in is not entirely clear to me,” said Clarke, who is British but conducted his research at the University of California, Berkeley.