The Evolution of Scientific Disciplines in Applied Sciences: Dynamics and Empirical Properties of Experimental Physics

How do scientific disciplines evolve? This is one of the fundamental problems of the dynamics of science. This study confronts this problem here by investigating the evolution of experimental physics, which plays a vital role for the progress of science in society. In particular, the main aim of this article is to analyze the structure and endogenous processes of experimental physics to explain and generalize, whenever possible, the properties of the evolution of applied sciences in the phase of continuous expansion of the universe of science. Empirical analysis here suggests the following properties of the dynamics of applied sciences: a) scientific fission, the evolution of scientific disciplines generates a process of division into two or more research fields that evolve as autonomous entities creating new disciplines of scientific specialization; b) ambidextrous drivers of science, the evolution of scientific disciplines via scientific fission is due to scientific discoveries or new technologies; c) higher growth rates of the scientific production are in new research fields of a scientific discipline rather than old ones; d) average duration of the growth phase of scientific production in research fields is about 80 years, almost the period of one generation of scholars. Overall, then, this study explains, whenever possible, the relationships that support scientific change of disciplines to develop comprehensive properties of the evolution of science directed to economic, technological and social progress.