01 · The discovery
The idea, in everyday language
Quantum tunnelling allows a system to pass through an energy barrier that classical physics would not let it cross. Energy quantisation means the allowed energies come in distinct levels rather than a smooth continuum.
Working with a very cold superconducting circuit, the laureates showed both effects in the collective motion of many particles. The circuit was a manufactured object, but its carefully isolated electrical state still obeyed quantum rules.
Why it matters
The experiments helped establish superconducting circuits as platforms for quantum technology, including the kinds of devices used in some quantum computers.
