dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaOptical alignment and spinning of laser-trapped microscopic particles
| Authors | M. E. J. Friese, T. A. Nieminen, N. R. Heckenberg, H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0308113 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0308113 |
| DOI | 10.1038/28566 |
| Journal | Nature 394, 348-350 (1998), erratum: Nature 395, 621 (1998) |
Abstract
Light-induced rotation of absorbing microscopic particles by transfer of angular momentum from light to the material raises the possibility of optically driven micromachines. The phenomenon has been observed using elliptically polarized laser beams or beams with helical phase structure. But it is difficult to develop high power in such experiments because of overheating and unwanted axial forces, limiting the achievable rotation rates to a few hertz. This problem can in principle be overcome by using transparent particles, transferring angular momentum by a mechanism first observed by Beth in 1936, when he reported a tiny torque developed in a quartz waveplate due to the change in polarization of transmitted light. Here we show that an optical torque can be induced on microscopic birefringent particles of calcite held by optical tweezers. Depending on the polarization of the incident beam, the particles either become aligned with the plane of polarization (and thus can be rotated through specified angles) or spin with constant rotation frequency. Because these microscopic particles are transparent, they can be held in three-dimensional optical traps at very high power without heating. We have observed rotation rates in excess of 350 Hz.
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"abstract": "Light-induced rotation of absorbing microscopic particles by transfer of\nangular momentum from light to the material raises the possibility of optically\ndriven micromachines. The phenomenon has been observed using elliptically\npolarized laser beams or beams with helical phase structure. But it is\ndifficult to develop high power in such experiments because of overheating and\nunwanted axial forces, limiting the achievable rotation rates to a few hertz.\nThis problem can in principle be overcome by using transparent particles,\ntransferring angular momentum by a mechanism first observed by Beth in 1936,\nwhen he reported a tiny torque developed in a quartz waveplate due to the\nchange in polarization of transmitted light. Here we show that an optical\ntorque can be induced on microscopic birefringent particles of calcite held by\noptical tweezers. Depending on the polarization of the incident beam, the\nparticles either become aligned with the plane of polarization (and thus can be\nrotated through specified angles) or spin with constant rotation frequency.\nBecause these microscopic particles are transparent, they can be held in\nthree-dimensional optical traps at very high power without heating. We have\nobserved rotation rates in excess of 350 Hz.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0308113",
"authors": [
"M. E. J. Friese",
"T. A. Nieminen",
"N. R. Heckenberg",
"H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop"
],
"categories": [
"physics.optics"
],
"doi": "10.1038/28566",
"journal_ref": "Nature 394, 348-350 (1998), erratum: Nature 395, 621 (1998)",
"title": "Optical alignment and spinning of laser-trapped microscopic particles",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0308113"
},
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