Historically, he says, big tech services companies have worked more under time-and-material contracts, where clients reimburse them under hourly rates.
Furthermore, independent risk research can hardly be conducted since the companies can block access to research material or ask the scientists to sign contracts where they agree not to publish anything that is not agreed with the company.
By placing interleaved comb-like electrodes on the surface of lithium niobate, a material that is piezoelectric (and so expands or contracts as a current is passed through it), Dr Wixforth was able to fine-tune the waves to do his bidding.