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A tiny doughnut-shaped laser is the latest marvel of silicon microminiaturization, but instead of manipulating bits it detects very small particles.

Western experts generally agree that the Soviets still trail the U.S. in key technological areas, including electronics, microminiaturization and computers, but they are moving aggressively to catch up.

A big part of this march toward tiny equipment is in the field of electronics, where the process is called microminiaturization, molecular electronics, micromodular engineering or a number of other terms.