Claeys

The role of technology in the evolution of science Wilfrid Claeys wclaeys@cribx1.u-bordeaux.fr Department of Pure and Applied Physics CPMOH - University of Bordeaux, 33400 Talence Cedex, France In 1610, the telescope allowed Galilee to discover the main satellites of Jupiter. In 1995 the Galileo space probe allowed the study of the internal structure of these satellites. These two situations, separated by nearly four centuries, are two examples of the important role of technology in unexpected discoveries. Technology and instrumentation are part of the scientific process on the same level as theory and experimentation.

I will take advantage of my own experience in optoelectronics to illustrate how technological developments can open new areas for fundamental research. My research group develops optical characterization methods for integrated circuits. With an instrumental concept from the 19th century coupled with nowdays laser technology and detection electronics, we have been able to measure surface displacements in the 10-15 m (femtometer) range. This very powerful instrumentation allowed us to see the "breathing" of running electronic components. This "breathing" process, not yet fully explained theoretically, opens new fields for fundamental research.

Many other similar and more important developments could serve to illustrate the extraordinary possibilities opened by technological developments. Amongst the major ones let us just quote the following: the transistor and associated electronics and computers, lasers, atomic force and near field microscopes, ....

By the end of this century we observe that more and more money is put in applied research; private companies develop instrumentation and our major funding organizations tend to direct us towards applied work. This trend is worth a discussion.