Top-down fabrication

Top-down fabrication is a manufacturing process where a large piece of material is carefully carved or etched down to create a smaller, detailed structure. Think of it like sculpting a statue from a block of marble: starting with a solid chunk and gradually removing parts to reveal the final form. This method is commonly used in creating microchips and nanoscale devices, allowing precise control over features and dimensions. It contrasts with bottom-up approaches that build structures by assembling smaller components. Overall, top-down fabrication is a controlled way to produce intricate and tiny devices from larger material sources.