Multiple-beam optical tweezers generated by the generalized phase-contrast method

Abstract

We demonstrate the application of the generalized phase-contrast (GPC) method to the implementation of a multiple-beam optical tweezer system. Experimental results show the generation of four optical tweezers from a fixed phase mask in conjunction with a GPC system to trap and hold 1-microm-sized polystyrene beads in solution.

Near-field photonic forces

“…Whereas the use of photonic forces in the near field is still at an early stage, the properties of confined optical fields allied to the advances in far-field photonic forces offer an exciting prospect for the development of new applications in areas such as multiparticle assembling (Dufresne et al . 2001;Eriksen et al . 2002) or micromotors (Collett et al .…”

Generation of multiple focal spot and focal hole segments using phase modulated cylindrically polarized annular multi-Gaussian beam

“…In order to improve the speed of particle trapping, the optical tweezers with multitraps are ideal (Huang et al 2011;Guo et al 2011). In 2002, two dimensional arrays of focal spots are formed by multi beam systems (Eriksen et al 2002). However, it is just for two dimensional particles trapping.…”

Orientation of Red Blood Cells and Rouleaux Disaggregation in Interference Laser Fields

“…There are two main approaches towards multiple optical trapping: one based on strongly focused beams using the high numerical aperture objectives [6][7][8][9][10] and another based on interference methods when particles are trapped by interference field [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The first type systems were created by a number of means: by fast single beam scanning [6], by two counterpropagating Gaussian light beams [7], with methods of spatial light modulation, e.g., computer-generated holography [8] or generalized phase-contrast method [9], and with multiple light sources [10].…”

“…The first type systems were created by a number of means: by fast single beam scanning [6], by two counterpropagating Gaussian light beams [7], with methods of spatial light modulation, e.g., computer-generated holography [8] or generalized phase-contrast method [9], and with multiple light sources [10]. The most powerful technique so far is that of holographic optical tweezers, where a large number of individually structured optical traps are created.…”