Elegant Gaussian beams for enhanced optical manipulation

Abstract

Generation of micro- and nanostructured complex light beams attains increasing impact in photonics and laser applications. In this contribution, we demonstrate the implementation and experimental realization of the relatively unknown, but highly versatile class of complex-valued Elegant Hermite- and Laguerre-Gaussian beams. These beams create higher trapping forces compared to standard Gaussian light fields due to their propagation changing properties. We demonstrate optical trapping and alignment of complex functional particles as nanocontainers with standard and Elegant Gaussian light beams. Elegant Gaussian beams will inspire manifold applications in optical manipulation, direct laser writing, or microscopy, where the design of the point-spread function is relevant.

Comparison of beam generation techniques using a phase only spatial light modulator

“…It was the advent of spatial light modulators (SLMs) which made the breakthrough to arbitrary beam generation, allowing flexible beam shaping in a wide range of applications including optical tweezers [3], quantum information [4], coherence tuning, atom trapping [5][6][7][8] and storage [9,10] amongst others. Light, by nature, is intrinsically complex, and to gain full control of a light field one must be able to arbitrarily specify both the phase and amplitude profile.…”

Polarization Singularity Explosions in Tailored Light Fields

“…To realize light fields, including both, phase and polarization singularities, a specific method is required. With respect to tailoring light, holographic techniques have emerged as a powerful tool as they provide dynamic modulation of various degrees of freedom . In this section, we introduce our experimental system employed for the customization of desired singular Poincaré beams.…”

Optimized anti-reflection core-shell microspheres for enhanced optical trapping by structured light beams

“…On the one hand, the use of shaped laser beams enhances the trapping forces via minimizing the light scattering [19][20][21][22][23] . Examples include using circular Airy beam for enhanced trapping efficiency of Rayleigh particles 24 , optical trapping with Laguerre-Gaussian modes with improved axial optical forces exerted on the dielectric particles 25 , optical trapping with cylindrical vector beams 21 , creation of enhanced trapping forces with complex-valued Elegant Hermitte-and Laguerre-Gaussian laser beams compared to standard Gaussian beams 26 , and effective multiple optical trapping with petal beams 27 . On the other hand, the optical and physical properties of the intended particle play an effective role in optical trap enhancement [28][29][30] .…”