Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at 7 pm
John M. Martinis and the future of quantum computing
To mark the visit of Nobel laureate John M. Martinis to Croatia, the talk will be dedicated to introducing the public to his life, scientific work and contribution to the development of modern physics. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of quantum computing and its potential impact on the future of science and technology. The talk will cover the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, the development of superconducting qubits and the emergence of the first functional quantum processors, as well as John Martinis's role in developing technology that could significantly change computing, cryptography and artificial intelligence.
Particular attention will be paid to how quantum computers can open up new possibilities for understanding complex physical systems, as well as modern cosmology.
The lecture is aimed at a general audience and all those interested in modern physics, advanced technologies, and the scientific challenges of the future.
John M. Martinis (1958), an American physicist of Croatian descent, is the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with John Clarke and Michel Devoret, for the discovery of macroscopic quantum tunnelling and the quantisation of energy in an electrical circuit. He is one of the pioneers of quantum computing, and his research into superconducting quantum bits and quantum phenomena in electrical circuits has laid the foundations for the development of new generations of quantum technologies. His work has significantly contributed to the understanding of the quantum world, and he is considered one of the most influential physicists of our time.
Lecturer: Miroslav Dorešić, physicist