Small,...,Small World by Ralph C. Merkle

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Small,...,Small World by Ralph C. Merkle

• Main Issues of Nanotechnology
• Molecular manufacturing system cosmetics.
• How to build such systems w/current technology.
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• Devices
• Self-Replication Assemblers
• Drexler robotic arm
• Stewart platform
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• Diamond as a dream material
• Great Thermal Conductivity
• Large Band Gap
• Synthesis of Diamond
• Chemical Vapor Deposition
• Hydrogen abstraction tool
• Carbene insertion tool
• Hydrogen Deposition tool

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The Once and Future Nanomachine
What is a machine?   Nanomachines already
exist "electric motor/generator" bacterium RNA
and protein - the ribosome   Biological
nanomachines and the self-replicating
cell Strategy - first polymerization then
spontaneously fold into function The cell is a
Collection of Catalysts   Can we make tiny
replications of large machines Problems We don't
know how? Where's the power? Storage and usage
of information? Size of "Jaws" for
assemblers Nature of atoms   Evolution or
scientific design? learn from biological
examples genetic engineering?
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Our Thoughts

• Merkles Small Small World
• Many theories
• Positional Control
• Diamonds
• Lots of real World examples/applications
• Planes, Cars, Potatoes
• Medicine
• Critics/Time frame 
• Whitesides Once and Future Nanomachines
• Practical and realistic
• Nanomachines exist
• Use biological examples to get ideas
• Problems
• Size
• Power
• Sticking
• Evolution vs Nanotechnology Design
• New Technologies