Stable Optical Trapping Based on Optical Binding Forces

Abstract

Various trapping configurations have been realized so far, either based on the scattering force or the gradient force. In this Letter, we propose a new trapping regime based on the equilibrium between a scattering force and optical binding forces only. The trap is realized from the interaction between a single plane wave and a series of fixed small particles, and is efficient at trapping multiple free particles. The effects are demonstrated analytically upon computing the exact scattering from a collection of cylindrical particles and calculating the Lorentz force on each free particle via the Maxwell stress tensor.

Material-Independent and Size-Independent Tractor Beams for Dipole Objects

“…Such nondiffracting beams can also trap particles in its cross section due to the transverse field gradient [1,2]. However, the pulling is forbidden by momentum conservation [10,11] and, thus, cannot be achieved by a single paraxial nondiffracting light.…”

Interparticle Interactions: Energy Potentials, Energy Transfer, and Nanoscale Mechanical Motion in Response to Optical Radiation

“…These optically induced interparticle interactions give rise to forces and torques, usually described as optical binding although the forces are not necessarily attractive in form, which are the subject of particularly interesting recent research. 10,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] The phenomenon has increasingly been advocated as a tool for the optical manipulation and configuration of particles, and many optically induced arrays have been observed experimentally. 8,46 In optical binding, particles 1 Following the optical binding process, which is described by forward Rayleigh scattering, it seems natural to consider the non-forward case where the energy states of the two particles also remain unchanged.…”

Push-Pull Phenomenon of a Dielectric Particle in a Rectangular Waveguide

“…The line plot is shown in Figure 3. (b) Plot of F z component of total force given in Equation (19). The line plot is shown in Figure 1.…”

“…Though optical trapping depends on the forces rising from incident field, optical binding forces depend on the modification of incident field in the presence of several illuminated objects [15]. Optical trapping can also be achieved as a balance between radiation pressure and optical binding forces [19,20].…”