Frenchman Alain Aspect among the three researchers awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics

The Nobel Prize in Physics crowned Frenchman Alain Aspect, American John Clauser and Austrian Anton Zeilinger on Tuesday, three pioneers of the revolutionary mechanisms of quantum physics.

The trio of septuagenarians is rewarded for their discoveries on “

”, a mechanism where two quantum particles are perfectly correlated, whatever the distance which separates them, announced the Nobel jury.

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The demonstration of this astonishing property has paved the way for new technologies in quantum computing and ultra-secure communications, or even ultra-sensitive quantum sensors that would allow extremely precise measurements, such as that of gravity in the atmosphere. 'space.

Even Einstein didn't believe it

This puzzling mechanics was predicted by quantum theory.

Yet even Albert Einstein did not believe it: two particles joined at the start - as twins could be - could keep the mark of their common past and behave similarly, at a distance.

Affiliated with the French University of Paris-Saclay and Polytechnique, Alain Aspect is 75, while John Clauser is 79 and Anton Zeilinger, from the University of Vienna, is 77.

The trio are rewarded "

", according to the Nobel jury.

"

."

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The prize is endowed with 10 million Swedish crowns (approximately 920,000 euros) in each discipline, to be shared in the event of co-winners.

An award for quantum physics had been awaited for many years, with the names of Aspect, Clauser and Zeiliger among the favorites to win in this field.

Pioneering work on light or photovoltaic energy was also among the speculations this year.