Abstract

Sometimes in physics differences of scale lead to qualitative changes in properties and behaviour, or at least to a change in the hierarchy of significant parameters. Starting from microscopy of mechanical properties [1], I shall illustrate this from elastic properties of nanotubes [2], growth of semiconductor nanostructures [3], self-oscillations of carbon nanotubes [4], the thermodynamics of time keeping [5], and machine learning for quantum control [6]. As scientists we have the responsibility and the privilege of advocating the responsible use of the progress to which we contribute [7].

[1] Acoustic Microscopy. Oxford: Clarendon Press (1992; 2nd Edition 2010) [2] Elastic and shear moduli of single-walled carbon nanotube ropes. Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 944-947 (1999) [3] Imaging the elastic nanostructure of Ge islands by ultrasonic force microscopy. Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 1046-1049 (1998) [4] A coherent nanomechanical oscillator driven by single-electron tunnelling. Nature Physics 16, 75-82 (2019) [5] Measuring the thermodynamic cost of timekeeping. Phys. Rev. X 11 , 021029 (2021) [6] Bridging the reality gap in quantum devices with physics-aware machine learning. Physical Review X 14 , 011001 (2024) [7] Human Flourishing: Scientific insight and spiritual wisdom in uncertain times. Oxford University Press (2021)