Interviews with researchers in two fields of condensed matter physics point to differences
in their strategies for success. In one, synthesizing interdisciplinary knowledge takes
priority over developing sophisticated instrumentation; in the other, developing instru
ments is crucial. As a result, the fields differ in other ways, such as growth rates, presence
of dilettantes, and freedom available to plan experiments. The differing priority given to
instrumentation in each field suggests that blanket generalizations about advances in
instrumentation being crucial to advances in science are too simple.
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