Abstract

Cylindrical micro-objects with inclined end surfaces have been observed to be optically trapped in a focused laser beam and to rotate about the beam’s propagation direction. A simplified vector model is developed that accounts for the observed effect; the enhanced ray-optics model is used to simulate the behavior of time evolution for the cylindrical object in the beam. Experimental laser trap configurations are presented, along with a video image sequence of the cylinder’s precession.

© 2001 Optical Society of America

Experimental confirmation of the optical-trapping properties of cylindrical objects

Robert C. Gauthier, Mike Ashman, and Chander P. Grover
Appl. Opt. 38(22) 4861-4869 (1999)

Optical selection, manipulation, trapping, and activation of a microgear structure for applications in micro-optical–electromechanical systems

Robert C. Gauthier, R. Niall Tait, Howard Mende, and Chris Pawlowicz
Appl. Opt. 40(6) 930-937 (2001)

Optical levitation particle delivery system for a dual beam fiber optic trap

Robert C. Gauthier and Athanasios Frangioudakis
Appl. Opt. 39(1) 26-33 (2000)

Theoretical investigation of the optical trapping force and torque on cylindrical micro-objects

R. C. Gauthier
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14(12) 3323-3333 (1997)

Theoretical investigation of the optical trapping properties of a micro-optic cubic glass structure

Robert C. Gauthier and Athanasios Frangioudakis
Appl. Opt. 39(18) 3060-3070 (2000)