The emerging revolution in nanotechnology

The world is experiencing rapid progress in the ability to design and fabricate mechanical and electronic devices and structures with nanoscale dimensions. This ability stems from parallel advances in materials growth technology, patterning techniques, imaging and manipulation capability, and advances in characterization and testing. When taken together, these techniques form the basis for designing and fabricating devices and structures using atomic level control. Nanotechnology will form the basis for new devices and structures with performance far exceeding that available from current systems.