6. Challenges and expectations

As we have illustrated in this dossier, picotechnologies are still only at the laboratory stage. This is the first time that mankind has had access to the elementary constituents of sensitive matter, with such precision of manipulation and such a wide range of tools. A huge field of exploration now lies before us, with high expectations essentially linked to fundamental research.

• However, external pressure could soon come from microelectronics, which is nearing the end of its cycle. The 2009 version of the famous ITRS roadmap will, for the first time, include technological avenues such as molecule logic gates, atomic switches and atomic memories. The future atom-by-atom precision of manufacturing processes is clearly underlined. These technologies will enable us to manufacture and study the ultimate devices, in terms of number of atoms, that...