Abstract

There is currently considerable interest in noncontact optical trapping of single biological cells and the like.^1,2 This new technique is expected to play an important role in experimental cell biology and immunology as well as in other areas of biotechnology and bioscience. The laser wavelength for trapping should be carefully selected because absorption of light by the subject decreases the backward component of single beam trapping force and also causes damage, especially in the case of biological cells.

© 1990 Optical Society of America