Michel Henri Devoret Biography, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics in 2025

Michel Henri Devoret is a world-renowned French physicist celebrated for his groundbreaking work in quantum physics and superconducting circuits. He has played a key role in shaping the modern era of quantum computing, introducing revolutionary technologies such as the quantronium, transmon, and fluxonium qubits.

In 2025, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with John Clarke and John M. Martinis for their pioneering research on macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconducting circuits — a discovery that opened new possibilities in quantum computing.

Early Life and Education of Michel Devoret

Michel Devoret was born in Paris, France, in 1953. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in science and technology.

He earned his engineering degree in telecommunications from École nationale supérieure des télécommunications (ENST), now called Télécom Paris, in 1975.
Later, he completed a graduate diploma (DEA) in quantum optics from the University of Orsay (Paris-Saclay University).

Devoret went on to pursue a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics at CEA Saclay, one of France’s top research institutions, where he worked under the guidance of physicist Neil S. Sullivan in the group led by Anatole Abragam.

Early Career and Research

After completing his doctorate, Devoret moved to the United States to work as a postdoctoral researcher in John Clarke’s lab at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1982 to 1984.

During this time, he collaborated with John M. Martinis, who was then a graduate student. Together, they made history by demonstrating the first-ever quantized energy levels in a Josephson junction in 1985 — a key step toward creating modern quantum computers.

Return to France – Founding the Quantronics Group

In 1984, Devoret returned to France and co-founded the Quantronics Group at CEA Saclay with Daniel Esteve and Cristian Urbina.

This team made several major contributions to physics, including:

• Measuring how fast particles tunnel through barriers (known as tunneling time)
• Developing an electron pump, a device that controls electron flow
• Observing Cooper pairs (pairs of electrons responsible for superconductivity)
• Creating the quantronium qubit, an early building block for quantum computers

Their work showed how quantum effects could be controlled in electronic circuits, inspiring a new field called circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED).

Work at Yale University

Devoret joined Yale University in 2002 as a Professor of Applied Physics.
At Yale, he collaborated with physicists Steven Girvin and Robert J. Schoelkopf to develop the transmon qubit, which became one of the most stable and widely used qubits in quantum computing today.

He also introduced fluxonium, another advanced qubit design, in 2009. His team later developed quantum-limited amplifiers that helped read and measure quantum signals with extreme precision.

Through his work at Yale, Devoret helped establish the university as one of the world’s leading centers for quantum information science.

Later Career and Leadership Roles

Devoret served as a professor at the Collège de France from 2007 to 2013, one of France’s most prestigious academic institutions.

In 2023, he joined Google Quantum AI as Chief Scientist for Quantum Hardware, where he continues to work on advancing the technology that powers quantum computers.

By 2024, he became a Professor of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, continuing his legacy in research and education.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Michel Devoret has received numerous honors for his contributions to physics and quantum research.
Some of his major awards include:

• Ampère Prize (1991) – French Academy of Sciences
• Descartes-Huygens Prize (1995) – Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Europhysics-Agilent Prize (2004) – European Physical Society
• John Stewart Bell Prize (2013) – For pioneering work in quantum entanglement
• Fritz London Memorial Prize (2014) – Shared with Martinis and Schoelkopf
• Olli V. Lounasmaa Memorial Prize (2016)
• Micius Quantum Prize (2021) – Shared with John Clarke and Yasunobu Nakamura
• Comstock Prize in Physics (2024) – With Robert Schoelkopf
• Nobel Prize in Physics (2025) – Shared with John Clarke and John M. Martinis

He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Legacy and Impact

Michel Devoret’s work has transformed how scientists understand and use quantum mechanics in real-world technology. His innovations — from superconducting qubits to quantum amplifiers — are the foundation of today’s quantum computers.

Through his collaborations in France, the U.S., and now at Google, Devoret continues to inspire new generations of physicists. His journey shows how curiosity, innovation, and teamwork can lead to discoveries that change the future of science.