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Nobel Prize winners by category (physics)

year name country* achievement

1901 Röntgen, Wilhelm Conrad Germany discovery of X-rays

1902 Lorentz, Hendrik Antoon The Netherlands investigation of the influence of magnetism on radiation

Zeeman, Pieter The Netherlands investigation of the influence of magnetism on radiation

1903 Becquerel, Henri France discovery of spontaneous radioactivity

Curie, Marie France investigations of radiation phenomena discovered by Becquerel

Curie, Pierre France investigations of radiation phenomena discovered by Becquerel

1904 Rayleigh (of Terling Place), John William Strutt, 3rd Baron (Rayleigh, John William Strutt, 3rd Baron) U.K. discovery of argon

1905 Lenard, Philipp Germany research on cathode rays

1906 Thomson, Sir J.J. U.K. researches into electrical conductivity of gases

1907 Michelson, A.A. U.S. spectroscopic and metrological investigations

1908 Lippmann, Gabriel France photographic reproduction of colours

1909 Braun, Ferdinand Germany development of wireless telegraphy

Marconi, Guglielmo Italy development of wireless telegraphy

1910 Waals, Johannes Diederik van der The Netherlands research concerning the equation of state of gases and liquids

1911 Wien, Wilhelm Germany discoveries regarding laws governing heat radiation

1912 Dalén, Nils Sweden invention of automatic regulators for lighting coastal beacons and light buoys

1913 Kamerlingh Onnes, Heike The Netherlands investigation into the properties of matter at low temperatures; production of liquid helium

1914 Laue, Max von Germany discovery of diffraction of X-rays by crystals

1915 Bragg, Sir Lawrence U.K. analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays

Bragg, Sir William U.K. analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays

1917 Barkla, Charles Glover U.K. discovery of characteristic X-radiation of elements

1918 Planck, Max Germany discovery of the elemental quanta

1919 Stark, Johannes Germany discovery of the Doppler effect in positive ion rays and division of spectral lines in an electric field

1920 Guillaume, Charles Édouard Switzerland discovery of anomalies in alloys

1921 Einstein, Albert Switzerland work in theoretical physics

1922 Bohr, Niels Denmark investigation of atomic structure and radiation

1923 Millikan, Robert Andrews U.S. work on elementary electric charge and the photoelectric effect

1924 Siegbahn, Karl Manne Georg Sweden work in X-ray spectroscopy

1925 Franck, James Germany discovery of the laws governing the impact of an electron upon an atom

Hertz, Gustav Germany discovery of the laws governing the impact of an electron upon an atom

1926 Perrin, Jean France work on the discontinuous structure of matter

1927 Compton, Arthur Holly U.S. discovery of wavelength change in diffused X-rays

Wilson, C.T.R. U.K. method of making visible the paths of electrically charged particles

1928 Richardson, Sir Owen Willans U.K. work on electron emission by hot metals

1929 duc (duke) de (Broglie, Louis-Victor, 7e duc de) France discovery of the wave nature of electrons

1930 Raman, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata India work on light diffusion; discovery of the Raman effect

1932 Heisenberg, Werner Germany creation of quantum mechanics

1933 Dirac, P.A.M. U.K. introduction of wave equations in quantum mechanics

Schrödinger, Erwin Austria introduction of wave equations in quantum mechanics

1935 Chadwick, Sir James U.K. discovery of the neutron

1936 Anderson, Carl David U.S. discovery of the positron

Hess, Victor Francis Austria discovery of cosmic radiation

1937 Davisson, Clinton Joseph U.S. experimental demonstration of the interference phenomenon in crystals irradiated by electrons

Thomson, Sir George Paget U.K. experimental demonstration of the interference phenomenon in crystals irradiated by electrons

1938 Fermi, Enrico Italy disclosure of artificial radioactive elements produced by neutron irradiation

1939 Lawrence, Ernest Orlando U.S. invention of the cyclotron

1943 Stern, Otto U.S. discovery of the magnetic moment of the proton

1944 Rabi, Isidor Isaac U.S. resonance method for registration of various properties of atomic nuclei

1945 Pauli, Wolfgang Austria discovery of the exclusion principle of electrons

1946 Bridgman, Percy Williams U.S. discoveries in the domain of high-pressure physics

1947 Appleton, Sir Edward Victor U.K. discovery of the Appleton layer in the upper atmosphere

1948 Blackett, Patrick M.S. (Blackett, Patrick M.S., Baron Blackett of Chelsea) U.K. discoveries in the domain of nuclear physics and cosmic radiation

1949 Yukawa Hideki Japan prediction of the existence of mesons

1950 Powell, Cecil Frank U.K. photographic method of studying nuclear processes; discoveries concerning mesons

1951 Cockcroft, Sir John Douglas U.K. work on transmutation of atomic nuclei by accelerated particles

Walton, Ernest Thomas Sinton Ireland work on transmutation of atomic nuclei by accelerated particles

1952 Bloch, Felix U.S. discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance in solids

Purcell, E.M. U.S. discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance in solids

1953 Zernike, Frits The Netherlands method of phase-contrast microscopy

1954 Born, Max U.K. statistical studies of atomic wave functions

Bothe, Walther West Germany invention of the coincidence method

1955 Kusch, Polykarp U.S. measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron

Lamb, Willis Eugene, Jr. U.S. discoveries in the hydrogen spectrum

1956 Bardeen, John U.S. investigations on semiconductors and invention of the transistor

Brattain, Walter H. U.S. investigations on semiconductors and invention of the transistor

Shockley, William B. U.S. investigations on semiconductors and invention of the transistor

1957 Lee, Tsung-Dao China discovery of violations of the principle of parity

Yang, Chen Ning China discovery of violations of the principle of parity

1958 Cherenkov, Pavel Alekseyevich U.S.S.R. discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov effect

Frank, Ilya Mikhaylovich U.S.S.R. discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov effect

Tamm, Igor Yevgenyevich U.S.S.R. discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov effect

1959 Chamberlain, Owen U.S. confirmation of the existence of the antiproton

Segrè, Emilio U.S. confirmation of the existence of the antiproton

1960 Glaser, Donald A. U.S. development of the bubble chamber

1961 Hofstadter, Robert U.S. determination of the shape and size of atomic nucleons

Mössbauer, Rudolf Ludwig West Germany discovery of the Mössbauer effect

1962 Landau, Lev Davidovich U.S.S.R. contributions to the understanding of condensed states of matter

1963 Jensen, J. Hans D. West Germany development of the shell model theory of the structure of atomic nuclei

Mayer, Maria Goeppert U.S. development of the shell model theory of the structure of atomic nuclei

Wigner, Eugene Paul U.S. principles governing interaction of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

1964 Basov, Nikolay Gennadiyevich U.S.S.R. work in quantum electronics leading to construction of instruments based on maser-laser principles

Prokhorov, Aleksandr Mikhaylovich U.S.S.R. work in quantum electronics leading to construction of instruments based on maser-laser principles

Townes, Charles Hard U.S. work in quantum electronics leading to construction of instruments based on maser-laser principles

1965 Feynman, Richard P. U.S. basic principles of quantum electrodynamics

Schwinger, Julian Seymour U.S. basic principles of quantum electrodynamics

Tomonaga Shin'ichiro (Tomonaga Shin'ichirō) Japan basic principles of quantum electrodynamics

1966 Kastler, Alfred France discovery of optical methods for studying Hertzian resonances in atoms

1967 Bethe, Hans Albrecht (Bethe, Hans) U.S. discoveries concerning the energy production of stars

1968 Alvarez, Luis W. U.S. work with elementary particles, discovery of resonance states

1969 Gell-Mann, Murray U.S. classification of elementary particles and their interactions

1970 Alfvén, Hannes Sweden work in magnetohydrodynamics and in antiferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism

Néel, Louis-Eugène-Félix France work in magnetohydrodynamics and in antiferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism

1971 Gabor, Dennis U.K. invention of holography

1972 Bardeen, John U.S. development of the theory of superconductivity

Cooper, Leon N. U.S. development of the theory of superconductivity

Schrieffer, John Robert U.S. development of the theory of superconductivity

1973 Esaki, Leo Japan tunneling in semiconductors and superconductors

Giaever, Ivar U.S. tunneling in semiconductors and superconductors

Josephson, Brian D. U.K. tunneling in semiconductors and superconductors

1974 Hewish, Antony U.K. work in radio astronomy

Ryle, Sir Martin U.K. work in radio astronomy

1975 Bohr, Aage N. Denmark work on the atomic nucleus that paved the way for nuclear fusion

Mottelson, Ben R. Denmark work on the atomic nucleus that paved the way for nuclear fusion

Rainwater, James U.S. work on the atomic nucleus that paved the way for nuclear fusion

1976 Richter, Burton U.S. discovery of a new class of elementary particles (psi, or J)

Ting, Samuel C.C. U.S. discovery of a new class of elementary particles (psi, or J)

1977 Anderson, Philip W. U.S. contributions to understanding the behaviour of electrons in magnetic, noncrystalline solids

Mott, Sir Nevill F. U.K. contributions to understanding the behaviour of electrons in magnetic, noncrystalline solids

Van Vleck, John H. U.S. contributions to understanding the behaviour of electrons in magnetic, noncrystalline solids

1978 Kapitsa, Pyotr Leonidovich U.S.S.R. invention and application of a helium liquefier

Penzias, Arno U.S. discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, providing support for the big-bang theory

Wilson, Robert Woodrow U.S. discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, providing support for the big-bang theory

1979 Glashow, Sheldon Lee U.S. unification of electromagnetism and the weak interactions of subatomic particles

Salam, Abdus Pakistan unification of electromagnetism and the weak interactions of subatomic particles

Weinberg, Steven U.S. unification of electromagnetism and the weak interactions of subatomic particles

1980 Cronin, James Watson U.S. demonstration of simultaneous violation of both charge-conjugation and parity-inversion symmetries

Fitch, Val Logsdon U.S. demonstration of simultaneous violation of both charge-conjugation and parity-inversion symmetries

1981 Bloembergen, Nicolaas U.S. applications of lasers in spectroscopy

Schawlow, Arthur Leonard (Schawlow, Arthur L.) U.S. applications of lasers in spectroscopy

Siegbahn, Kai Manne Börje Sweden electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis

1982 Wilson, Kenneth Geddes U.S. analysis of continuous phase transitions

1983 Chandrasekhar, Subrahmanyan U.S. contributions to understanding the evolution and devolution of stars

Fowler, William A. U.S. contributions to understanding the evolution and devolution of stars

1984 Meer, Simon van der The Netherlands discovery of subatomic particles W and Z, which supports the electroweak theory

Rubbia, Carlo Italy discovery of subatomic particles W and Z, which supports the electroweak theory

1985 Klitzing, Klaus von West Germany discovery of the quantized Hall effect, permitting exact measurements of electrical resistance

1986 Binnig, Gerd West Germany development of electron microscopes

Rohrer, Heinrich Switzerland development of electron microscopes

Ruska, Ernst West Germany development of electron microscopes

1987 Bednorz, J. Georg West Germany discovery of new superconducting materials

Müller, Karl Alex Switzerland discovery of new superconducting materials

1988 Lederman, Leon Max U.S. research in subatomic particles

Schwartz, Melvin U.S. research in subatomic particles

Steinberger, Jack U.S. research in subatomic particles

1989 Dehmelt, Hans Georg U.S. development of methods to isolate atoms and subatomic particles for study

Paul, Wolfgang West Germany development of methods to isolate atoms and subatomic particles for study

Ramsey, Norman Foster U.S. development of the atomic clock

1990 Friedman, Jerome Isaac U.S. discovery of quarks

Kendall, Henry Way U.S. discovery of quarks

Taylor, Richard E. Canada discovery of quarks

1991 Gennes, Pierre-Gilles de France discovery of general rules for behaviour of molecules

1992 Charpak, Georges France invention of a detector that traces subatomic particles

1993 Hulse, Russell Alan U.S. identifying binary pulsars

Taylor, Joseph H., Jr. U.S. identifying binary pulsars

1994 Brockhouse, Bertram N. Canada development of neutron-scattering techniques

Shull, Clifford G. U.S. development of neutron-scattering techniques

1995 Perl, Martin Lewis U.S. discovery of the tau subatomic particle

Reines, Frederick U.S. discovery of the neutrino

1996 Lee, David M. U.S. discovery of superfluidity in the isotope helium-3

Osheroff, Douglas D. U.S. discovery of superfluidity in the isotope helium-3

Richardson, Robert C. U.S. discovery of superfluidity in the isotope helium-3

1997 Chu, Steven U.S. process of trapping atoms with laser cooling

Cohen-Tannoudji, Claude France process of trapping atoms with laser cooling

Phillips, William D. U.S. process of trapping atoms with laser cooling

1998 Laughlin, Robert B. U.S. discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect

Störmer, Horst L. U.S. discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect

Tsui, Daniel C. U.S. discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect

1999 Hooft, Gerardus 't The Netherlands study of the quantum structure of electroweak interactions

Veltman, Martinus J.G. The Netherlands study of the quantum structure of electroweak interactions

2000 Alferov, Zhores I. (Alferov, Zhores) Russia development of fast semiconductors for use in microelectronics

Kilby, Jack S. (Kilby, Jack) U.S. development of the integrated circuit (microchip)

Kroemer, Herbert Germany development of fast semiconductors for use in microelectronics

2001 Cornell, Eric A. U.S. achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute gases of alkali atoms; early fundamental studies of the properties of the condensates

Ketterle, Wolfgang Germany achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute gases of alkali atoms; early fundamental studies of the properties of the condensates

Wieman, Carl E. U.S. achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute gases of alkali atoms; early fundamental studies of the properties of the condensates

2002 Davis, Raymond, Jr. U.S. detection of neutrinos

Giacconi, Riccardo U.S. seminal discoveries of cosmic sources of X-rays

Koshiba Masatoshi Japan detection of neutrinos

2003 Abrikosov, Alexei A. (Abrikosov, Alexey A.) U.S. discoveries regarding superconductivity and superfluidity at very low temperatures

Ginzburg, Vitaly L. (Ginzburg, Vitaly Lazarevich) Russia discoveries regarding superconductivity and superfluidity at very low temperatures

Leggett, Anthony J. U.S. discoveries regarding superconductivity and superfluidity at very low temperatures

2004 Gross, David J. U.S. discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction

Politzer, H. David U.S. discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction

Wilczek, Frank U.S. discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction

2005 Glauber, Roy J. U.S. contributions to the field of optics

Hall, John L. U.S. contributions to the development of laser spectroscopy

Hänsch, Theodor W. Germany contributions to the development of laser spectroscopy

2006 Mather, John C. U.S. discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Smoot, George F. U.S. discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation

2007 Fert, Albert France discovery of giant magnetoresistance

Grünberg, Peter Germany discovery of giant magnetoresistance

2008 Kobayashi Makoto Japan discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature

Maskawa Toshihide Japan discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature

Nambu, Yoichiro U.S. discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics

*Nationality given is the citizenship of recipient at the time award was made. Prizes may be withheld or not awarded in years when no worthy recipient can be found or when the world situation (e.g., World Wars I and II) prevents the gathering of information needed to reach a decision.