Optical force field mapping in microdevices

Lab Chip. 2006 Dec;6(12):1545-7. doi: 10.1039/b608669a. Epub 2006 Sep 22.

Abstract

We present a method for characterizing microscopic optical force fields. Two dimensional vector force maps are generated by measuring the optical force applied to a probe particle for a grid of particle positions. The method is used to map out the force field created by the beam from a lensed fiber inside a liquid filled microdevice. We find transverse gradient forces and axial scattering forces on the order of 2 pN per 10 mW laser power which are constant over a considerable axial range (>35 microm). These findings suggest future useful applications of lensed fibers for particle guiding/sorting. The propulsion of a small particle at a constant velocity of 200 microm s(-1) is shown.

MeSH terms

  • Lasers
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / instrumentation
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods
  • Optics and Photonics*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity