Parallel optical manipulation using evanescent optical landscapes

C. López-Mariscal, W. Vreeland, R. Kishore and Kris Helmerson

Optical trapping is a flexible and noninvasive technique that allows for the manipulation of single dielectric particles. Conventional single and multiple beam laser traps however, are limited by the amount of trapping sites that can be embedded in their wave field with a sufficiently high intensity gradient. We make use the interference of multiple beams and total internal reflection to couple an extended evanescent optical field to a large number of particles in a 2-D periodical landscape. The particles are confined and manipulated by modifying the spatial parameters of the landscape. We ultimately intend to use this technique to the parallel fusion of multiple pairs of parallel fusion of multiple pairs of microscopic droplets to investigate the dynamics of micro-reactions.

Author information

Carlos López-Mariscal

Mentor: Kris Helmerson

Physics Division, Laser Cooling and Trapping Group,

Building 216, Office B249

Mail Stop 8424

Phone 301-975-6867

Fax 301-975-8272

clopez@nist.gov

Not a member if Sigma Xi

Category: Physics