The Nobel Prize in Physics 2018

Arthur Ashkin

© Arthur Ashkin

Prize share: 1/2

Gérard Mourou

© Nobel Media AB. Photo: A. Mahmoud

Prize share: 1/4

Donna Strickland

© Nobel Media AB. Photo: A. Mahmoud

Prize share: 1/4

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 was awarded "for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics" with one half to Arthur Ashkin "for the optical tweezers and their application to biological systems", the other half jointly to Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland "for their method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses"

To cite this section
MLA style: The Nobel Prize in Physics 2018. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Sat. 21 Dec 2024. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2018/summary/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Nobel Prizes and laureates

In 2018, 12 new laureates were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.

Their work and discoveries range from cancer therapy and laser physics to developing proteins that can solve humankind’s chemical problems. The work of the 2018 Nobel Laureates also included combating war crimes, as well as integrating innovation and climate with economic growth. Find out more.

Nobel prizes burgundy 2018

Nobel Prizes and laureates

Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.

See them all presented here.

Illustration

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.