We use the lightest possible touch, deflecting atoms with the force exerted by light as we deposit the atoms onto a substrate. The basic physics behind the idea hinges on the recognition that a particle of light, or photon, carries momentum. If an atom is moving slowly enough, a collision with a photon can be used to deflect it. The novel technique raises the possibility of developing a fundamentally new type of lithography with various potential ap- plications, including making microchips. Technological progress is measured by the number and size of components on a chip.
More components mean more circuit func- tions.
Smaller components and shorter distances between them mean faster, more reliable circuits. Progress in lithography means ever-finer lines and patterns. In devices that small, the position of every atom matters. We're taking the first, small steps in this direction. We're a long way from developing and manufacturing products with it, but it's exciting research.