Bespoke optical springs and passive force clamps from shaped dielectric particles

Simpson, S.H., Phillips, D.B., Carberry, D.M. and Hanna, S. (2013) Bespoke optical springs and passive force clamps from shaped dielectric particles. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 126, pp. 91-98. (doi: 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2012.10.014)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jqsrt.2012.10.014

Abstract

By moulding optical fields, holographic optical tweezers are able to generate structured force fields with magnitudes and length scales of great utility for experiments in soft matter and biological physics. It has recently been noted that optically induced force fields are determined not only by the incident optical field, but by the shape and composition of the particles involved [Gluckstad J. Optical manipulation: sculpting the object. Nat Photonics 2011;5:7–8]. Indeed, there are desirable but simple attributes of a force field, such as orientational control, that cannot be introduced by sculpting optical fields alone. With this insight in mind, we show, theoretically, how relationships between force and displacement can be controlled by optimizing particle shapes. We exhibit a constant force optical spring, made from a tapered microrod and discuss methods by which it could be fabricated. In addition, we investigate the optical analogue of streamlining, and show how objects can be shaped so as to reduce the effects of radiation pressure, and hence switch from non-trapping to trapping regimes.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Phillips, Dr David
Authors: Simpson, S.H., Phillips, D.B., Carberry, D.M., and Hanna, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0022-4073
ISSN (Online):1879-1352

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record