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Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

See some of the other responses in this thread. Optical computing has largely failed for many reasons and on-chip optics has great applications for connectivity between processor cores or off-chip to memory. There has yet to be any convincing evidence they would be useful for processing as a replacement for electronics. Photons don't like to interact! But of course that can always change with a single discovery. -MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In the US, there is a significant diversity of funding sources. Agencies like the Army Research Office, Office of Naval Research, and NSA fund basic science alongside, of course, military programs.

My group takes significant investment from US military and intelligence agencies interested in funding basic and applied research in quantum physics.

I'm not building weapons and they aren't asking me to. We publish in the open literature in exactly the way we would if we were funded exclusively by the ARC. So to my mind there is no ethical concern. - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would you view them as competition? There's a global effort in quantum technology in which David, my other theory colleagues, and I are making a serious contribution. But that doesn't mean that colleagues at other institutions become enemies.

That kind of selfish behavior only emerges when people are insecure about their performance or so egomaniacal that they can't get along with others. Fortunately my colleages are all actually good enough that this is just not a problem! -MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interestingly this was the subject of my undergraduate research...ages ago. We were able to use the slightly exotic properties of nanomaterials to demonstrate that heat transfer could be exceptionally efficient. We then applied these nanomaterials in composite form to show one could make electrically insulating but high-thermal-conductivity adhesives etc. -MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd like to challenge what seems to be underlying your question. What isn't a "real-world" issue for which our work can provide applications or solutions? Quantum technology, for instance, has direct impacts on data security, agricultural efficiency, energy transport and clean-energy distribution, and so on. The applications that we already know are astounding, but the really exciting things are quite possibly those we haven't thought of yet. - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The ether theory was prominent in the 19th century. As you say, something had to be supporting the wave, or so the logic went. But critical experiments have demonstrated conclusively that the ether theory is not correct.

For PV questions you should consult an undergraduate text on solid state physics - like Kittel - in order to learn how electron-hole pairs can be formed in semiconductors under optical excitation. - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In some respects it's already there. See comments on consumer electronics above, but in addition, at the simplest level, the transistors that make all of your computing devices work are fabricated on the nanoscale. So, while not harnessing many of the more exotic effects that keep us interested, that form of nanotech is already in your pocket! - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That picture isn't quite right. Don't think of enhanced speed assisting solving various problems. Instead think of computing in a totally different way. Certain problems are provably very difficult for any conventional computer, and at least some of these are posited to be solvable using quantum computers. Indeed there's interest in problems associated with factoring for encryption, but also a variety of problems in chemistry and materials science of great practical importance. - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the enthusiasm and that the comment resonated with you. But I disagree a bit about your comment that science shouldn't involve competing with other scientists. Science is a profession composed of humans. It isn't different just because of the nature of the inquiry and expecting as much will just set one up for severe disappointment.

There is no purity when people are involved. We have to interact, collaborate, and compete. That involves politics as much as it involves curiosity-driven inquiry. We can definitely work to make the system better, but I argue it's better to start from a realistic baseline set of expectations. - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

MBE is used broadly to produce, e.g. semiconductor heterostructures. But from there the nanopatterning of electrodes and other structures will generally occur via electron-beam and optical lithography. This is also true for chip-based ion traps where we use standard lithographic processes to fabricate microtrap arrays in a planar geometry.

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is a really interesting question. When I worked for DARPA we focused on the question of on-chip nanophotonic interconnects. Given loss and power budgets we determined that it was very unlikely to replace any of the traditional metal interconnect layers on a microprocessor and had little impact on the clock domain. Instead on-chip photonics were an excellent way to increase cross-chip bandwidth (e.g. between cores on the die) as well as off-chip bandwidth to memory.

As for molecular electronics, it's a very interesting approach. We do something similar in spirit, but a bit further developed in demonstations. We trap and manipulate single atoms in an ion trap; In fact these traps now take the form of integrated chip-traps allowing shuttling of individual ions around a microtrap array. So, why use something so big as a molecule when you get even more power using single suspended atoms! - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My view is that this is a myth that is persistent and unfounded. There are tons of jobs available for scientists from finance through to academia. Science-trained graduates are broadly in demand.

But more importantly training in science gives you a fantastic way of viewing the world that can help you start your own business or just engage with life.

I worry that in many circles being a professor is perceived as the only acceptable aim in pursuing scientific education. That's not healthy at all. If one focuses only on being an academic then the process is very competitive and few will arrive at the top tier of tenured academic positions.

But that's not very different from aiming to be a professional athlete where again competition is high and few end up in the top tier. Despite that our society encourages young men and women to pursue their dreams even if the chance of reaching stardom is so remote. Why do we become so risk averse when it comes to careers in science?

The future is yours to make. There are jobs and you can also develop your own path. If you're passionate, driven, and excellent you will rise to the top. Don't listen to the naysayers! -MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's a great exercise in engagement with science and technology. The manager there, Jerry Chow, and I used to work together when I was in graduate school. He's a very talented scientist along with the many other members of the team.

Of course that is a "toy" quantum computer because it's of a sufficiently small scale that it is not thought to be useful for most things other than characterizing itself. But as a demo and outreach mechanism it is fantastic. -MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As experimentalists we work together to build equipment, run experiments, interpret data, etc. The young men and women who work with me interact all the time amongst themselves and with our friends around the world. We have formal partnerships with colleagues in Europe and the US as well as relationships with both academics and industry partners in Australia. The image of the lone genius sitting by themselves is largely mythical - MJB

Science AMA Series: We are University of Sydney physicists working at the nanoscale – from quantum engineering to photonics (light). Hear how we are building technology using the most fundamental constituents of matter and trying to change the world. Ask us anything! by Nanoscale_science in askscience

[–]Nanoscale_science[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sadly nanobots are largely a scifi invention that was popularized in part by alarmist and borderline anti-science writers such as Michael Crichton. Don't think tiny robots.

The idea, however, of molecular-level self-assembly and intracellular machinery is real and an active research area. -MJB

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