Improvement of optical trapping effect by using the focused high-order Laguerre-Gaussian beams

We investigate the optical trapping effect of high-order Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams acting on a dielectric sphere in Rayleigh regime. For LG beams with the azimuthal mode index l=0, it is found that under the same input power, the transverse trapping effect can be enhanced several times with increasing the radial mode index p, compared with that of the Gaussian beam; while its axial trapping effect is exactly the same as that of Gaussian beam, although the central trapping region reduces as p increases. For LG beams with l≥1, we find that the maximal transverse gradient forces increase with the increasing of p and the axial radiation forces reduces slightly, therefore an optimal choose on p and l is necessary for obtaining an optimal optical guiding. Our result is useful for analyzing the trapping efficiency of LG beams applied in micromanipulation technologies.     

高斯光束中吸收双层球形微粒的横向光俘获

为了研究吸收双层球形微粒的横向光俘获,基于几何光学模型提出了双层带吸收球形微粒的光俘获模型,对TEM₀₀模式高斯光束照射下外层有光吸收的双层电介质球形微粒受到的横向光俘获力进行了数值模拟,取得了光俘获力特性的一系列结果.结果显示,双层球形微粒的外层吸收系数对包括稳态俘获位置,峰值强度,稳态俘获的刚度等光俘获特性有很大影响.此外,内外径的比率对吸收双层球形微粒的光俘获特性也有调制性的影响.在一定条件下,带吸收的双层球形微粒可以被俘获在光轴上,也可能被俘获在中心在光轴上的圆环上. 关键词： 光俘获 几何光学模型 高斯光束 吸收双层球     

Phase-transition-like properties of double-beam optical tweezers

We report on double-beam optical tweezers that undergo previously unknown phase-transition-like behavior resulting in the formation of more optical traps than the number of beams used to create them. We classify the optical force fields which produce multiple traps for a double-beam system including the critical behavior. This effect is demonstrated experimentally in orthogonally polarized (noninterfering) dual-beam optical tweezers for a silica particle of 2.32 μm diameter. Phase transitions of multiple beam trapping systems have implications for hopping rates between traps and detection of forces between biomolecules using dual-beam optical tweezers. It is an example of a novel dynamic system with multiple states where force fields undergo a series of sign inversions as a function of parameters such as size and beam separation.     

Forces in optical tweezers with radially and azimuthally polarized trapping beams

It has been suggested that radially polarized beams can be used to improve the performance of optical tweezers, with reduced scattering force resulting from both the polarization and the dark center of the beam [Opt. Lett. 32, 1839 (2007)]. We calculate the forces on particles in such traps, using rigorous electromagnetic theory, comparing the results with azimuthally polarized beam, circularly polarized LG 01 beams, and Gaussian beams. Our results agree qualitatively with Opt. Lett. 32, 1839 (2007), but differ quantitatively.     

Improvement of Transverse Trapping Efficiency of Optical Tweezers

Transverse trapping efficiency of optical tweezers is important in many force measurement applications. For improving the transverse trapping efficiency, we propose a simple scheme in which the Gaussian beam does not fully cover the aperture of the objective. Both experiment and theoretical simulation qualitatively demonstrate the scheme. It is expected that the results will be useful for the design of optical tweezers.     

Multiple bottle beams based on metasurface optical field modulation and their capture of multiple atoms

Compared to conventional devices, metasurfaces offer the advantages of being lightweight, with planarization and tuning flexibility. This provides a new way to integrate and miniaturize optical systems. In this paper, a metasurface capable of generating multiple bottle beams was designed. Based on the Pancharatnam-Berry (P-B) phase principle, the metasurface lens can accurately control the wavefront by adjusting the aspect ratio of the titanium dioxide nanopillars and the rotation angle. When irradiated by left-handed circularly polarized light with a wavelength of 632.8 nm, the optical system can produce multiple micron bottle beams. Taking two bottle beams as examples, the longitudinal full widths at half-maximum of the optical tweezers can reach 0.85 μ and 1.12 μ, respectively, and the transverse full widths at half-maximum can reach 0.46 μ and 0.6 μ. Also, the number of generated bottle beams can be varied by controlling the size of the annular obstacle. By changing the x-component of the unit rotation angle, the metasurface can also change the shape of the bottle beam — the beam cross-section can be changed from circular to elliptical. This paper also analyzes the trapping of ytterbium atoms by the multi bottle beam acting as optical tweezers. It is found that the multi bottle beam can cool and trap multiple ytterbium atoms.     

光学微操纵过程的轴平面显微成像技术

光学俘获技术利用光与物质相互作用产生的光势阱效应来实现对微粒的操控,已经成功应用于生物医学、材料科学等交叉领域.在对微粒进行三维俘获时,传统的宽场光学显微技术只能观测到某一平面内微粒的横向运动,对微粒沿轴向运动的观测受到很大限制.本文将轴平面显微成像技术引入光学微粒操控研究中,利用45?倾斜的反射镜把微粒的轴向运动信息转换到横向平面进行观测,与传统宽场显微成像技术相结合,实现了对二氧化硅小球俘获过程横向和轴向运动的同步观测.该成像方法无需扫描和数据重构,具有实时快速等优点,在新型光束光镊、厚样品三维观测和成像等领域具有潜在的应用价值.     

Optical trapping of gold nanoparticles by cylindrical vector beam

Optical trapping of gold nanoparticles is experimentally demonstrated using radially and azimuthally polarized beams. The transverse optical trapping stiffness of gold nanoparticles is measured. The radially polarized beam exhibits a higher trapping efficiency than the azimuthally polarized beam and the Gaussian beam. The transverse stiffness of particles with different diameters is measured experimentally and calculated via the discrete-dipole approximation method, and good agreement between theory and experiment is found.     

时域有限差分法数值仿真单光镊中微球受到的光阱力

本文采用三维时域有限差分法(FDTD)和Maxwell应力张量法建立了单光镊在焦点附近俘获球形微粒的光阱力模型,采用基于球矢量波函数(VSWF)的五阶高斯光源作为仿真光源,得到了准确的光场传播.讨论了光源的波长、束腰、偏振态和微球的半径、折射率对光阱力的影响,分析了在单光镊俘获微球时,邻近微球对光阱力的影响.特别研究了光源的偏振态对微球所受光阱力的作用效果,仿真结果表明圆偏振光比线偏振光对微球的俘获力更大;被光镊稳定俘获的微球,会受到邻近微球干扰,失去平衡状态,改变光源的偏振态可以改变微球的受力状态. 关键词： 光镊 光阱力 介质微球 时域有限差分法(FDTD)     

Theoretical comparison of optical traps created by standing wave and single beam

We used generalised Lorenz–Mie scattering theory (GLMT) to compare submicron-sized particle optical trapping in a single focused beam and a standing wave. We focus especially on the study of maximal axial trapping force, minimal laser power necessary for confinement, axial trap position, and axial trap stiffness in dependency on trapped sphere radius, refractive index, and Gaussian beam waist size. In the single beam trap (SBT), the range of refractive indices which enable stable trapping depends strongly on the beam waist size (it grows with decreasing waist). On the contrary to the SBT, there are certain sphere sizes (non-trapping radii) that disable sphere confinement in standing wave trap (SWT) for arbitrary value of refractive index. For other sphere radii we show that the SWT enables confinement of high refractive index particle in wider laser beams and provides axial trap stiffness and maximal axial trapping force at least by two orders and one order bigger than in SBT, respectively.     

一种用于细胞操作的单光纤光镊研究

采用一种抛物线形光纤针作为基本器件,设计制作了单光纤光镊系统.用时域有限差分（Finite Difference Time Domain,FDTD）的方法仿真了抛物线型光纤探针的出射场,并在稳态场下通过对麦克斯韦应力张量积分求出不同介质球半径和折射率情况下,介质球受到的横向和纵向光作用力.实验中此单光纤光镊系统实现了对水中酵母细胞的空间捕获,并且结合两个抛物线形光纤针实现了酵母细胞在两个光势阱中的转移交接.这种单光纤光镊系统结构简单、紧凑,操纵灵活,便于调整.可以适应更多的生物细胞和生物分子的光微操作需求.     

相位连续可调诱导下双艾里光束形成的可控方形光瓶(英文)

提出一种利用相位连续可调诱导产生的双艾里光束形成方形光瓶的方法。该方法首先利用二值化后的相位调制出双艾里光束,为了能够实现光瓶能量分布,一个可调控的线性因子被引入到相位调制函数中形成新改进的相位,该相位能够灵活地调节光瓶的大小。数值模拟结果表明高斯光束通过该改进相位调制,能够形成光瓶能量分布的光束。该方形光瓶光束可应用于光镊、原子捕获与操纵。     

Propagation of confluent hypergeometric beam through uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis

Based on the theory of paraxial electromagnetic beams in anisotropic medium, propagation properties of a linearly polarized confluent hypergeometric (HyG) beam through uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis are investigated. Analytical expressions are derived for the resultant optical field components. Effects of separate beam parameters together with the ratio of refractive indices of crystals on transversal intensity distributions are revealed by numerical calculations, respectively. It is shown that the beam profile finally converts into an elliptical shape due to influences of anisotropic crystals. Moreover, it is also indicated that through suitable selection of parameters, types of the optical vortices of resultant field would change from a central dark spot to a slight dark ring or an axial shadow during the propagation. These numerical results may provide alternative advantages to the trapping of tiny particles by utilizing HyG beams in practical experiments.     

INCREASING TRANSVERSE STABILITY OF OPTICAL TWEEZERS BY USING DUAL-GAUSSIAN BEAM PROFILE

Trapping force was calculated with a homogeneous dielectric sphere model. Results indicate that the transverse trapping force of optical tweezers can be increased effectively through modifying laser beam profile while the axial stability of the system is still assured. This is quite important when optical tweezers are applied to the precise measurements for single biological molecule.     

环形光束锥形衍射出射光场偏振特性及光场调控

环形光束的锥形衍射效应对于微粒的操控具有重要的应用价值.本文建立了环状高斯光束的锥形衍射模型,并基于Berry理论给出了线偏振态下环形光束锥形衍射出射光场的计算公式.理论仿真了环状光锥形衍射出射光场的偏振特性,得出环光锥形衍射出射光场的内、外亮环具有相互正交的偏振分布特性.搭建了线偏振态下环状高斯光锥形衍射的实验系统,实验验证了出射光场的偏振特性.针对环形光束锥形衍射出射光场具备的偏振特性,设计了一种组合偏振片,理论和实验研究了该组合偏振片对环光锥形衍射出射光场的调控.结果表明,随着组合偏振片方位角的变化,锥形衍射出射光场的内、外环强度发生周期性的变化.     

Optimal beam diameter for lateral optical forces on microspheres at a water-air interface

Optical tweezers with a low numerical aperture microscope objective is used to manipulate the microspheres at the water-air interface. In this letter, we determine the optimal optical trap for the lateral manipulation of microspheres at a water-air interface. The experimental results show that the trapping force is influenced by the expansion of the trapping beam at the back aperture of the objective. The optimal filling ratio of 0.65 is suggested for lateral optical manipulation at the water-air interface. The lateral trapping forces at the water-air interface are theoretically investigated with the ray-optics model. The numerical results show that the lateral trapping forces can be changed by shrinking the diameter of the trapping laser beam. The numerical results are in accordance with the experimental results.     

Propagation dynamics and optical trapping of a radial Airy array beam

Analytical propagation expression of a radial Airy array beam in coherent and incoherent combination passing through paraxial ABCD system is derived, and used to investigate the effect of combination scheme, array orientation and initial phase of Airy beamlet on propagation dynamics of the resulting beam in free space, where optical spot array and vortex array with different shapes are also found, respectively. And then taking four-beamlet Airy array beam in same array orientation as an example, square optical spot array obtained in focal field can be used for simultaneous trapping multiple Rayleigh particles with relative refractive index larger than 1. The transverse gradient forces serving as restore forces tend to push particles at different initial positions to their individual optical spot center. The analysis of trapping stability indicates that larger input peak intensity of Airy beamlet and smaller particle size are benefit to trapping particle owing to many deeper potential wells. Vortex array produced by coherent combined Airy array beam in this paper is expected to be useful for simultaneous trapping microparticles with relative refractive index smaller than 1.     

小型化可调光镊设计

光镊利用强会聚激光对微粒产生的梯度力来捕获微粒,可以进行无损、远程操控,同时具有皮牛精度的测力特性,已经成为物理学、生命科学和胶体化学等研究领域中不可缺少的研究工具。光镊效应可以表现微小的光子动量和角动量,是物理学的重要教学工具。本文根据高斯光束传播和变换规律,设计具有稳定捕获性能的最小化光镊,并给出了典型参数。光镊系统由捕获激光、光束耦合系统、倒置生物显微镜和大数值孔径物镜组成,成像系统由物镜、摄影目镜和CCD相机组成。本光镊系统具有紧凑特性,同时通过保持物镜后瞳充满度来实现稳定捕获。在该最小光镊系统上,可以根据用户需求增加光镊阱位操控系统、刚度调节系统和其他辅助设备以满足不同操控要求,可以很好地满足科研和教学需求。     

两种单光纤光镊捕获效果的数值仿真与实验研究

采用一种基于时域有限差分(FDTD)的数值算法,仿真计算了抛物线形和大锥角形两种新型单光纤光镊的出射光场,并在稳态场下通过对麦克斯韦应力张量积分求得介质球在两种光场中受到的光阱力,得到大锥角型光纤端产生的光阱力较大的结论;讨论了不同介质球大小、折射率,光纤探针形状对光阱力的影响.在实验中这两种光纤探针都实现了对水中酵母菌细胞的捕获,且采用流体力学法对抛物线形和大锥角形二种新型单光纤光镊产生的光阱力进行了标定.结果表明:基于FDTD数值仿真方法计算受力与实验结果一致,并且这种计算光纤光镊产生的光阱力的方法简单.适用;且抛物线形和大锥角形光纤探头都具备构成单光纤光镊的条件.     

Advanced optical trapping by complex beam shaping

Optical tweezers, a simple and robust implementation of optical micromanipulation technologies, have become a standard tool in biological, medical and physics research laboratories. Recently, with the utilization of holographic beam shaping techniques, more sophisticated trapping configurations have been realized to overcome current challenges in applications. Holographically generated higher‐order light modes, for example, can induce highly structured and ordered three‐dimensional optical potential landscapes with promising applications in optically guided assembly, transfer of orbital angular momentum, or acceleration of particles along defined trajectories. The non‐diffracting property of particular light modes enables the optical manipulation in multiple planes or the creation of axially extended particle structures. Alongside with these concepts which rely on direct interaction of the light field with particles, two promising adjacent approaches tackle fundamental limitations by utilizing non‐optical forces which are, however, induced by optical light fields. Optoelectronic tweezers take advantage of dielectrophoretic forces for adaptive and flexible, massively parallel trapping. Photophoretic trapping makes use of thermal forces and by this means is perfectly suited for trapping absorbing particles. Hence the possibility to tailor light fields holographically, combined with the complementary dielectrophoretic and photophoretic trapping provides a holistic approach to the majority of optical micromanipulation scenarios.