The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Arthur Ashkin of the United States, and to Gérard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada for their work in using light to make miniature tools, reports The New York Times.
A woman won the Nobel Prize in Physics?!?!?!? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Right. Time to learn about Donna Strickland, the 3rd woman to EVER be awarded the prize. https://t.co/ydVnV3WNRI
— Mika McKinnon (@mikamckinnon) October 2, 2018
Dr. Ashkin invented “optical tweezers,” which use pressure from a highly focused laser beam so that researchers can hold microscopic objects steady. Dr. Strickland and Dr. Mourou created a method of generating high intensity, ultrashort laser pulses, known as chirped pulse amplification, according to The Times.
Dr. Mourou’s and Dr. Strickand’s work has real-world applications, including in eye surgery and manufacturing. Dr. Ashkin’s work has been especially important in biological research on viruses and other microbes.
Dr. Strickland is only the third woman to win the Physics prize and is the first woman in 55 years to win.
“We need to celebrate women physicists because they’re out there… I’m honoured to be one of those women,” says Donna Strickland.
She becomes the third woman to receive the #NobelPrize in Physics, joining Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1963) and Marie Curie (1903). Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/m2XLJHTW0V
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 2, 2018
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