Optical trapping at gigapascal pressures

Bowman, R.W., Gibson, G.M. , Padgett, M.J. , Saglimbeni, F. and Di Leonardo, R. (2013) Optical trapping at gigapascal pressures. Physical Review Letters, 110(9), Art. 095902. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.095902)

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Abstract

Diamond anvil cells allow the behavior of materials to be studied at pressures up to hundreds of gigapascals in a small and convenient instrument. However, physical access to the sample is impossible once it is pressurized. We show that optical tweezers can be used to hold and manipulate particles in such a cell, confining micron-sized transparent beads in the focus of a laser beam. Here, we use a modified optical tweezers geometry, allowing us to trap through an objective lens with a higher working distance, overcoming the constraints imposed by the limited angular acceptance of the anvil cell. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique by measuring water’s viscosity at pressures of up to 1.3 GPa. In contrast to previous viscosity measurements in anvil cells, our technique measures absolute viscosity and does not require scaling to the accepted value at atmospheric pressure. This method could also measure the frequency dependence of viscosity as well as being sensitive to anisotropy in the medium’s viscosity.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gibson, Dr Graham and Bowman, Dr Richard and Padgett, Professor Miles
Authors: Bowman, R.W., Gibson, G.M., Padgett, M.J., Saglimbeni, F., and Di Leonardo, R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Physical Review Letters
Publisher:American Physical Society
ISSN:0031-9007
ISSN (Online):1079-7114
Published Online:28 February 2013
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2013 The Authors
First Published:First published in Physical Review Letters 110(9):095902
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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