Title:
Nanotechnology
Dr. Ralph Merkle, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center

Abstract:

Manufactured products are made from atoms. The properties of those products depend on the arrangement of those atoms. Today's manufacturing methods arrange atoms statistically, without control over the placement of individual atoms. Casting, milling, lithography, and other traditional "bulk" manufacturing technologies provide only approximate control over the molecular structure of the material being manufactured. In the future, we will be able to inexpensively manufacture structures in which each individual atom is in its proper place. This will be essential for the manufacture of molecular computers, and will also let us cleanly make diamondoid products of remarkable strength and lightness.

This talk will provide a general introduction to the field: where we are, where we're going, and some of the possibilities once we get there.