Are Atomically Precise 3D Printers Possible?

At the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, researchers led by Professor Gerd Leuchs say that an approach they have discovered is utilized to couple light to a single atom, or for that matter, to individual nano-particles, and they add that their work demonstrates that light can be coupled to an ion trapped within a parabolic mirror. They believe that the finding point the way to complex objects such as nanostructures being built and manipulated by understanding specific interactions they have with a light field. Leuchs says such manipulations have potential applications in biophysics or quantum information processing, and the individual nanostructures themselves may serve as “building blocks” to create metamaterials. You can read the whole story here: http://3dprint.com/77424/atom-precise-nanobeacon/


Below is a chart from the study:
http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload...sans_right.jpg

Check out K. Erik Drexler's book Radical Abundance for the whole story of APM Atomically Precise Manufacturing.
http://www.kurzweilai.net/radical-ab...e-civilization
and Drexler's talk at Oxford - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bw6Zi17DBI