[extropy-chat] nano limit/hassle?

[BillK]

On 9/24/05, Eugen Leitl wrote:
> On Sat, Sep 24, 2005 at 02:38:01PM -0500, Damien Broderick wrote:
<snip>
> > The measurement tells nanotechnologists how small they can make extremely
> > tiny devices before a microscopic force between atoms and surfaces, called
> > van der Waals interaction, becomes a concern.
>
> What will the press think of next? OMFG, Scientists discover pi complexes?

Methinks you are being a tad too cynical tonight, Eugen.  :)

This was a news release from the University of Arizona,
not from some FOX news hack reporter.

Try <http://www.physorg.com/news6724.html#comments>
and the full pdf paper at:
<http://xxx.lanl.gov/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0505/0505160.pdf>
(Bit technical, not for those of a nervous disposition).

That last comment is almost a quote from one of the scientists.
"I think the impact of our work stems from the intersection of the
fields of atom optics and nanotechnology," Perreault said. "It answers
the question of how far you can miniaturize an atom optics device -
for example, a device that guides atoms on a chip to form a very tiny
interferometer - before this nano-interaction disrupts operations."

BillK