Nobel Prize in Physics honours work on 'ghost messengers from space'

Francis Halzen has won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole and his discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.

Born in Belgium, the 82-year-old scientist is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the US.

The Academy noted that Mr Halzen's "vision and scientific leadership" had been fundamental for the observatory, which it described as "a cubic kilometre of ice that is equipped with light sensors".

Using the observatory, researchers can capture neutrinos — rare subatomic particles — "from extremely energy-rich processes in the distant universe".

"This Nobel Prize is about a giant ice cube positioned at the South Pole of our globe. The ice cube enables the detection of neutrinos," Professor Eva Olsson, a member of the Nobel Committee for Physics, told reporters.

The prize money this year is 12 million Swedish kronor, ($1.718 million), whether for an individual, a small group of laureates, or an organisation.

"It was a great surprise, and I obviously didn't expect it," Mr Halzen told the news conference by telephone shortly after the prize was announced.

"But it's a great pleasure to hear about this prize."

Last year, three scientists won the Nobel Prize in Physics for research on the strange behaviour of subatomic particles called quantum tunnelling that enabled the ultra-sensitive measurements achieved by MRI machines and laid the groundwork for better cellphones and faster computers.

The announcements of this year's prizes began Monday, local time, with the Nobel Prize in Medicine being awarded to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works.

This week, the awards for chemistry and literature will also be handed out.

The perhaps most keenly anticipated award — the Nobel Peace Prize — is due to be announced on Friday, local time.