Nobel Prize 2023 in Physics awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier

Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier 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. (Illustration Image credit: @NobelPrize/X)

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter”.

Experiments involving light capture incredibly brief moments

The three Nobel Laureates in Physics 2023 are being recognised for their experiments, which have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in its press release.

Pierre Agostini (Professor, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA), Ferenc Krausz (Director at Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching and Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany), and Anne L’Huillier (Professor at Lund University, Sweden) 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, the release said.

The laureates’ experiments have produced pulses of light so short that they are measured in attoseconds, thus demonstrating that these pulses can be used to provide images of processes inside atoms and molecules, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences also said.

The laureates’ contributions have enabled the investigation of processes that are so rapid they were previously impossible to follow, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences noted.

“We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons. The next step will be utilising them,” says Eva Olsson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics.

The award will be presented in Stockholm at the annual ceremony on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death.

Century-long tradition of scientific excellence

The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to those who have made the greatest achievements to humanity in the field of physics. It was first mentioned in Alfred Nobel's will from 1895. On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes, the Nobel Prizes. As described in Nobel’s will, one part was dedicated to “the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics”.

Key information about the Nobel Prize in Physics: Some facts

117 Nobel Prizes in Physics have been awarded to 225 eminent laureates since 1901. As John Bardeen has been awarded twice there are 224 individuals who have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics since 1901. It was not awarded on six occasions: in 1916, 1931, 1934, 1940, 1941, and 1942. 47 physics prizes have been given to one laureate only. 32 physics prizes have been shared by two laureates. 38 physics prizes have been shared between three laureates. Lawrence Bragg holds the distinction of being the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in physics to date, receiving the award alongside his father in 1915 at the age of 25. Arthur Ashkin became the oldest Nobel Prize laureate in physics to date when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2018 at the age of 96. Out of the 224 recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics, five of them are women.

Alain Aspect, John Clauser, Anton Zeilinger won Nobel Prize 2022 in Physics

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 was awarded jointly to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger "for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science".

The Nobel Prize categories are physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace and were laid out in the will of Alfred Nobel.

Nobel Prize 2023 in Medicine awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman

The 2023 Nobel Prize season commenced on October 2 with the announcement of the winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

The Nobel Prize 2023 in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on October 2 to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

Upcoming Nobel Prize announcements

Prizes in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economics will be announced, with one announcement occurring each weekday until October 9.

Chemistry prize will be announced on October 4, and Literature on October 5. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 6 and the Economics award on October 9. The prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million). The money comes from a bequest left by the prize's creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896. The prize money was raised by 1 million kronor this year.

The laureates will be invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death. The Peace Prize is handed out in Oslo, according to Alfred Nobel's wishes, while the other award ceremony is held in Stockholm.

Also Read: What is a Nobel Prize? What do the winners take home? Answers to these and more

History of Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist and businessman in the 19th century, founded the Nobel Prizes. His claim to fame prior to receiving the Nobel Prizes was creating dynamite by combining nitroglycerine with a substance that made the explosion more stable. He possessed more than 300 patents.

The Royal Swedish Academy's commitment to science

Established in 1739, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is an independent organization with the overarching goal of advancing the sciences and enhancing their impact on society. While it primarily focuses on the natural sciences and mathematics, the Academy actively fosters cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas.