Optical Force Sensing with Cylindrical Microcontainers

Quantitative force sensing reveals essential information for the study of biological systems. Forces on molecules, cells, and tissues uncover functioning conditions and pathways. To analyze such forces, spherical particles are trapped and controlled inside an optical tweezers (OT) trap. Although these spherical particles are well‐established sensors in biophysics, elongated probes are envisioned for remote force sensing reducing heat damage caused by OT. There is thus a growing demand for force metrology with OT using complexly shaped objects, e.g., sac‐like organelles or rod‐like bacteria. Here, the employment of Zeolite‐L crystals as cylindrical force sensing probes inside a single optical trap is investigated. It is shown that cylindrical objects can be used as force probes since existing calibration assays can be performed with suitable corrections. Forces of active driving assays are compared with passive calibration methods. Finally, the investigations are extended to direct force measurements based on momentum calibration, in which the influence of rotation due to torque in a single optical trap is unveiled. Simulations reveal the relation between torque and the position of equilibrium in the trap. The results highlight the functionality of Zeolite‐L crystals as probes for force sensing, while opening perspectives for enhanced, accurate force metrology in biophotonics.     

Chiral lateral optical force near plasmonic ring induced by Laguerre-Gaussian beam

Owing to the good adjustability and the strong near-field enhancement, surface plasmons are widely used in optical force trap, thus the optical force trap can achieve excellent performance. Here, we use the Laguerre-Gaussian beam and a plasmonic gold ring to separate enantiomers by the chiral optical force. Along with the radial optical force that traps the particles, there is also a chirality-sign-sensitive lateral force arising from the optical spin angular momentum, which is caused by the interaction between optical orbit angular momentum and gold ring structure. By selecting a specific incident wavelength, the strong angular scattering and non-chiral related azimuthal optical force can be suppressed. Thus the chiral related azimuthal optical force can induce an opposite orbital rotation of the trapped particles with chirality of different sign near the gold ring. This work proposes an effective approach for catchingand separating chiral enantiomers.     

An integrated fiber-based optical trap for single airborne particles

We present a compact fiber-based optical airborne particle trap that is integrated on a microscope slide. Light guided in a short glass capillary is used to inject micron-sized droplets into an optical trap formed by the same light and a counterpropagating beam emanating from a single-mode optical fiber. The glass capillary ensures separation of trapped particles from remaining aerosol in the injection chamber. Permanent alignment of the fibers and the capillary allows for adjustment-free operation. Mie resonances arising in the radiation pressure exerted on trapped droplets are detected via a position stabilization feedback loop and are used to precisely determine the size evolution of trapped glycerol–water droplets.     

Trapping and controlled rotation of low-refractive-index particles using dual line optical tweezers

We show that dual line optical tweezers provides a convenient and dynamically reconfigurable approach for trapping and transport of low refractive index microscopic particles. By varying the spacing between the two line tweezers, particles of varying sizes could be trapped. Further, simultaneous rotation of the dual line tweezers could be used for controlled rotation of the trapped low-index particles. The transverse trapping force and the efficiency of the trap measured along the direction perpendicular to the line tweezers are in very good agreement with the theoretically estimated value. PACS 07.60.-j; 87.80.Cc; 87.80.Fe     

A cold 87Rb atomic beam

We demonstrate an experimental setup for the production of a beam source of cold ⁸⁷Rb atoms. The atoms are extracted from a trapped cold atomic cloud in an unbalanced three-dimensional magneto-optical trap. Via a radiation pressure difference generated by a specially designed leak tunnel along one trapping laser beam, the atoms are pushed out continuously with low velocities and a high flux. The most-probable velocity in the beam is varied from 9 m/s to 19 m/s by varying the detuning of the trapping laser beams in the magneto-optical trap and the flux can be tuned up to 4×10⁹ s^-1 by increasing the intensity of the trapping beams. We also present a simple model for describing the dependence of the beam performance on the magneto-optical trap trapping laser intensity and the detuning.     

Rotation rate of a three-wing rotor illuminated by upward-directed focused beam in optical tweezers

The optical torque and the trapping position (focal point) in optical tweezers are analyzed for upward-directed focused laser illumination using a ray optics model, considering that laser light is incident at not only the lower surface but also the side surface of a 3-wing rotor. The viscous drag force due to the pressure and the shearing stress on all surfaces of the rotor is evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. The rotation rate is simulated in water by balancing the optical torque with the drag force, resulting in 500 rpm for an SU-8 rotor with 20 μm diameter at a laser power of 200 mW. The trapping position is estimated to be 7.6 μm in the rotor with an upward-directed laser at 200 mW via an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 1.4. Both the rotation rate and the trapping position agree well with the values obtained in the experiment.     

Direct measurement of torque in an optical trap and its application to double-strand DNA

We present a method that offers the possibility to directly apply and measure torque on particles in an optical trap. It can be used to rotationally manipulate biopolymers attached to appropriate particles. A flat object is trapped and oriented in the focus of a linearly polarized laser light. The direction and power of the orientational trap are controlled by the polarization state of the light. As a demonstration of the capabilities of the method, we examined the torsional stiffness of dsDNA (lambda-DNA) in its linear torsional regime by directly measuring the torque generated by the molecule.     

一种新颖的表面空心微光阱阵列

提出了采用四台阶相位光栅与微透镜阵列组合产生一种新颖的表面空心微光阱阵列的方案，研究了表面空心微光阱阵列的光强分布，计算了相应的光学囚禁势，并讨论了该微光阱阵列在原子分子光学中的潜在应用.研究表明当用1W的YAG激光照射时，在1cm²面积上可产生近10⁴个空心光阱，每个光阱具有较小的囚禁体积和较大的有效光强及其强度梯度，对⁸⁵Rb原子的光学囚禁势可达190μK.如此深的光阱足以囚禁冷原子或冷分子，并可用于实现全光型原子或分子玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚，甚至制备新颖的光学晶格等. 关键词： 空心光阱 冷原子或冷分子 光学晶格     

飞秒光镊技术及其发展

激光捕获技术是利用光辐射力来捕捉、移动和操纵微粒的先进技术。飞秒光镊在实现粒子微纳操纵的同时还伴随着非线性现象的发生。阐述了飞秒光镊的模型和原理以及系统的各种结构形式,包括单光束梯度力光阱、贝塞耳光阱、双光束光纤光阱和冲击波光阱几种形式,并分析了每种形式的特点。     

Calculation and optical measurement of laser trapping forces on non-spherical particles

Optical trapping, where microscopic particles are trapped and manipulated by light is a powerful and widespread technique, with the single-beam gradient trap (also known as optical tweezers) in use for a large number of biological and other applications. The forces and torques acting on a trapped particle result from the transfer of momentum and angular momentum from the trapping beam to the particle. Despite the apparent simplicity of a laser trap, with a single particle in a single beam, exact calculation of the optical forces and torques acting on particles is difficult. Calculations can be performed using approximate methods, but are only applicable within their ranges of validity, such as for particles much larger than, or much smaller than, the trapping wavelength, and for spherical isotropic particles. This leaves unfortunate gaps, since wavelength-scale particles are of great practical interest because they are readily and strongly trapped and are used to probe interesting microscopic and macroscopic phenomena, and non-spherical or anisotropic particles, biological, crystalline, or other, due to their frequent occurance in nature, and the possibility of rotating such objects or controlling or sensing their orientation. The systematic application of electromagnetic scattering theory can provide a general theory of laser trapping, and render results missing from existing theory. We present here calculations of force and torque on a trapped particle obtained from this theory and discuss the possible applications, including the optical measurement of the force and torque.     

Confocal Raman microscopy for monitoring the membrane polymerization and thermochromism of individual,optically trapped diacetylenic phospholipid vesicles

Optical‐trapping confocal Raman microscopy allows the 1, 4‐addition reaction of diacetylenic functional groups in 1,2‐bis(10,12‐tricosadiynoyl)‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine lipids to be monitored in individual phospholipid vesicles. Optical trapping allows a single vesicle to be observed over time, allowing the direct observation of structural changes in the vesicle membrane during polymerization. Confocal Raman microscopy excludes light collection outside the optical‐trap region avoiding interferences from the surrounding solution, while chemical reactions occurring in the membrane of the trapped vesicle can be measured with high sensitivity. Individual, optically trapped liposomes (0.6 µm in diameter) were exposed to photolysis radiation at 254 nm. Upon exposure to UV light, the cross‐linking polymerization reaction formed a conjugated ene–yne backbone in the bilayer of the optically trapped vesicle. Polymerization produces two different polymers, red and yellow in color, which can be distinguished structurally by their Raman spectra. Rates of red and yellow polymer formation were monitored by the Raman scattering intensities from both C = C stretching vibrations at 1455 cm^–1 and 1508 cm^–1 and C ≡ C stretching vibrations at 2080 and 2110 cm^–1, respectively. Polymer formation rates depended linearly on 254‐nm light intensity, consistent with a one‐photon excited polymerization reacting in a photostationary state. Relative populations of red and yellow polymer in a polymerized vesicle depend sensitively on the sample temperature. From temperature‐dependent Raman spectra, the enthalpy change of the red‐to‐yellow thermochromic response and corresponding structural changes in the polymer could be determined. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical Demonstration of a Newly Designed Micro-Rotator Driven by Optical Pressure on a Light Incident Surface

A newly designed cylindrical optical micro-rotator which has slopes for trapping and rotation on its upper surface is proposed. The cylindrical shape is effective in decreasing viscous drag force (damping factor) in the medium. A ray-tracing method considering the beam waist is employed to analyze the radiation pressure exerted on the upper surface of the rotator. We have demonstrated optical trapping and high speed rotation for various optical beam parameters such as the lens numerical aperture and the Gaussian mode profile as well as rotator shape parameters including oblique angle, height and diameter.     

非线性晶体产生的空心光束中大尺寸粒子囚禁与导引

提出了一种基于非线性ZnSe晶体产生的空心光束与光泳力的大尺寸粒子二维囚禁与一维导引、三维囚禁方案.理论上分析并计算了单个非线性ZnSe晶体产生的空心光束内粒子受到的横向与纵向光泳力,纵向光泳力的大小同粒子尺寸与光束尺寸比例的四次方成正比,与空心光束功率成正比,方向与光束传播方向一致.粒子尺寸与空心光束尺寸越接近时,横向光泳力的大小越大.结果表明该光泳力可以实现对大尺寸粒子的二维囚禁,同时可对粒子进行长距离(米量级)一维定向导引;理论上分析并计算了基于双非线性ZnSe晶体产生的局域空心光束内粒子所受横向与纵向光泳力情况,光泳力与系统参数的依赖关系与单个非线性晶体产生的空心光束中的粒子受力情况类似,不同的是该条件下纵向光泳力指向光束中心.结果表明该局域空心光束可以实现大尺寸粒子的三维有效囚禁.基于非线性ZnSe晶体产生的空心光束或者局域空心光束可以作为大尺寸粒子非接触式有效操控的工具,在现代光学以及生物医学中有潜在的应用.     

Observation of a single-beam gradient-force optical trap for dielectric particles in air

A single-beam gradient-force optical trap for dielectric particles, which relies solely on the radiation pressure force of a TEM(00)-mode laser light, is demonstrated in air for what is believed to be the first time. It was observed that micrometer-sized glass spheres with a refractive index of n=1.45 remained trapped in the focus region for more than 30 min, and we could transfer them three dimensionally by moving the beam focus and the microscope stage. A laser power of ~40 mW was sufficient to trap a 5- microm -diameter glass sphere. The present method has several distinct advantages over the conventional optical levitation method.     

Multifocal optical trapping using counter-propagating radially-polarized beams

A model of optical tweezers which can trap a chain of Rayleigh particles is proposed by using two counter-propagating equal highly focused radial polarized beams. Calculations show that a multifocal distribution along the optical axis is formed and the scattering force is equal to zero in the total focal filed, consequently a chain of metallic Rayleigh particles can be stably trapped. The trap force and the trap stiffness using two counter-propagating Radially-polarized beams are larger than those using two counter-propagating linearly-polarized beams. The trapping stability is calculated and analyzed in detail. The trapping number of particles in a trapping chain can be controlled by adjusting the aperture angle of the objective and the parameters of the filter used in the proposed trap system.     

相位板偏振偏转角对径向偏振光的梯度力分布的影响

 研究了同心分区偏振偏转相位板对径向偏振光梯度力的调制效应。给出了相位板各部分偏振偏转角不同时,光学梯度力的分布情况。模拟结果表明:随着同心分区相位板各部分的半径和偏振旋转角的改变,光学梯度力方向及大小明显变化,且会产生许多可控的梯度力分布模式,可应用于微粒的收集、分离和合并。结果显示同心分区相位板对径向偏振光的调制可以用来生成可调光镊。     

采用消逝波干涉的二维表面微光阱阵列

提出了一种采用两套超大红失谐消逝波干涉和一束蓝失谐消逝波光场来实现原子二维表面微光阱阵列和原子有效强度梯度冷却的新方案,得到了二维表面微光阱阵列的光强分布和光学势分布.研究发现,二维表面微光阱阵列中微光阱的光学势能够有效地囚禁从标准磁光阱中释放的冷原子,并且被囚禁的冷原子能在蓝失谐消逝波光场的作用下产生有效的强度梯度Sisyphus冷却,对⁸⁷Rb原子而言,原子温度能被冷却到2.56μK.该方案在冷原子物理、原子光学和量子光学领域中有着广阔的应用前景. 关键词： 消逝波干涉 微光阱阵列 原子囚禁 强度梯度冷却     

红外显微观测被俘获吸光性颗粒

光镊技术被广泛应用在俘获和操纵微纳米尺寸颗粒, 目前被研究学者普遍接受的俘获吸光性颗粒的机理为光泳力. 本文实现了对空气中被俘获的吸光性颗粒的红外显微观测. 当激光器功率为1.0 W时, 成功观测到被俘获墨粉颗粒(直径约7 μm)和甲苯胺蓝颗粒(直径约为1–20 μm)的温升约为14 K, 为光泳力理论提供了强有力的证据. 另外, 首次用可见光显微镜和红外显微镜同时观测到被俘获颗粒的周期振荡现象, 并分析了振荡现象的产生机理. 关键词： 光镊 光俘获 红外显微     

激光捕获技术及其发展

激光捕获技术是利用光辐射力来捕捉、移动和操纵微粒的先进技术。光镊即单光束梯度力光阱是通过在高度会聚的激光束束腰附近所产生的极高的场强梯度来形成皮牛顿量级的力,可以三维地捕获和操纵微小粒子。阐述了激光捕获技术的模型和原理以及系统的基本结构;追踪了激光捕获技术的最新研究进展;介绍了非高斯型光阱、光纤光阱和全息光镊等几种特殊形式,并分析了每种形式的特点。展望了激光捕获技术的发展前景。     

相位板偏振偏转角对径向偏振光的梯度力分布的影响

研究了同心分区偏振偏转相位板对径向偏振光梯度力的调制效应。给出了相位板各部分偏振偏转角不同时,光学梯度力的分布情况。模拟结果表明:随着同心分区相位板各部分的半径和偏振旋转角的改变,光学梯度力方向及大小明显变化,且会产生许多可控的梯度力分布模式,可应用于微粒的收集、分离和合并。结果显示同心分区相位板对径向偏振光的调制可以用来生成可调光镊。