A New Optical Tweezers Technique Using a Holographic Crystal

Published

February 1, 2004

Author(s)

E Edgu-Fry, Kristian Helmerson, Joseph E. Reiner, Rani B. Kishore

Abstract

It has been shown previously that radiation pressure from a highly focused beam can be used to trap and manipulate objects in an aqueous media [1]. Over the past decade there have been several studies done by various groups to increase the ability of trapping many particles simultaneously by realizing several traps as opposed to a single trap. There are mainly two approaches that stand out in these studies. One group [2] uses the so called phase contrast method in conjunction with a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. They have the ability to produce tens of traps. With this method one can adjust the power associated with each one of these traps. However their limitation is that these traps are confined to two dimensions. The second group [3] uses a similar type of spatial light modulator and has control of their traps in three dimensions, but they cannot adjust the power of each trap individually.Our goal is to combine these two important aspects of multiple trapping, i.e., the ability to trap in three dimensions and the individual control of each trap s position and power. We are in the process of implementing a holographic crystal spatial light modulator that is computer controlled to our existing optical tweezers [4] system. Details of our optical setup, computer control and various challenges that we are trying to overcome will be reported.

Proceedings Title

Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Poster Presentations, 2004

Conference Dates

February 19-20, 2004

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

crystal, new optical tweezers, technique

Citation

Edgu-Fry, E. , Helmerson, K. , Reiner, J. and Kishore, R. (2004), A New Optical Tweezers Technique Using a Holographic Crystal, Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Poster Presentations, 2004 (Accessed July 27, 2024)