Direction-controllable dual-optical conveyors based on optical tweezers

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrate a class of direction-controllable dual-optical conveyors whose trajectories consisted of two different reconfigurable optical curve traps with designed intensity and phase gradient. When located near the dual-optical conveyors trajectories, various particles can be trapped and automatically transported. To substantiate the key advantages of our approach, we present position controlled optical transportation of particles with two sizes (3 and 5 µm diameters) and arrangement of monodisperse micro particles. In addition, the beam curve trajectory and number can be designed arbitrarily, which can manipulate and transport a variety of particles at the same time. This work provides a new perspective on optical transportation in fully controlled optical landscapes. This method can be easily combined with other particle manipulation techniques, such as fluorescence excitation, for micro total analysis systems of the future.