Performance of a rotating aperture for spinning and orienting objects in optical tweezers

Forrester, A., Courtial, J. and Padgett, M.J. (2003) Performance of a rotating aperture for spinning and orienting objects in optical tweezers. Journal of Modern Optics, 50(10), 1533 -1538. (doi: 10.1080/0950034021000020798)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0950034021000020798

Abstract

The spinning of asymmetric objects trapped within optical tweezers that have a rotating rectangular aperture inserted into the trapping laser beam is characterized. The measured maximum rotation rates of various asymmetric micron-sized objects are in agreement with a linear dependence on laser power. Maximum rotation rates of up to 0.2 Hz per mW of laser power suggest that rotation rates in the region of 10-20 Hz should be readily achievable in commercially available tweezers that have been modified by the inclusion of a rotating rectangular aperture. In addition, the possibility to alter the orientation of the aperture allows convenient control over the orientation of tweezed objects.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Padgett, Professor Miles and Courtial, Dr Johannes
Authors: Forrester, A., Courtial, J., and Padgett, M.J.
Subjects:Q Science > QC Physics
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Journal of Modern Optics
ISSN:0950-0340
ISSN (Online):1362-3044

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