The Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to three scientists, who
look at electrons in atoms during the tiniest of split seconds.
Pierre Agostini of The Ohio State University in US; Ferenc Krausz
of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Ludwig Maximilian University
of Munich in Germany; and Anne L’Huillier of Lund University in Sweden won the
award.
Their experiments “have given humanity new tools for exploring the
world of electrons inside atoms and molecules,” according to the Royal Swedish
Academy of Sciences, which announced the prize in Stockholm.
They “have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of
light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move
or change energy.”
At the moment, this science is about understanding our universe
rather than practical applications, but the hope is that it will eventually lead
to better electronics and disease diagnosis.
L’Huillier is only the fifth woman to win a Nobel in physics.
“This is the most prestigious and I am so happy to get this prize.
It’s incredible,” she told the news conference announcing the prize. “As you know
there are not so many women who got this prize so it’s very special.”
The Nobel Prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor
(US$ 1 million). The money comes from a bequest left by the prize’s creator,
Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896.
Last year, three scientists jointly won the physics prize for
proving that tiny particles could retain a connection with each other even when
separated.
The phenomenon was once doubted but is now being explored for
potential real-world applications such as encrypting information.
The physics prize comes a day after Hungarian-American Katalin
Karikó and American Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in medicine for
discoveries that enabled the creation of mRNA vaccines against Covid.
Nobel announcements will continue with the chemistry prize on
Wednesday and the literature prize on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be
announced on Friday and the economics award on October 9.
The laureates are invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on December
10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.
The prestigious peace prize is handed out in Oslo, according to his
wishes, while the other award ceremony is held in Stockholm.
AP
