A. Bérut, A. Petrosyan and S. Ciliberto
We measure the energy exchanged between two hydrodynamically coupled micron-sized Brownian particles trapped in water by two optical tweezers. The system is driven out of equilibrium by random-forcing the position of one of the two particles. The forced particle behaves as it has an "effective temperature" higher than that of the other bead. This driving modifies the equilibrium variances and cross-correlation functions of the bead positions: we measure an energy flow between the particles and an instantaneous cross-correlation, proportional to the effective temperature difference between the two particles. A model of the interaction which is based on classical hydrodynamic coupling tensors is proposed. The theoretical and experimental results are in excellent agreement.
DOI
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Low-temperature Bessel beam trap for single submicrometer aerosol particle studies
Jessica W. Lu, Merrill Isenor, Egor Chasovskikh, David Stapfer and Ruth Signorell
We report on a new instrument for single aerosol particle studies at low temperatures that combines an optical trap consisting of two counter-propagating Bessel beams (CPBBs) and temperature control down to 223 K (−50 °C). The apparatus is capable of capturing and stably trapping individual submicrometer- to micrometer-sized aerosol particles for up to several hours. First results from studies of hexadecane, dodecane, and water aerosols reveal that we can trap and freeze supercooled droplets ranging in size from ∼450 nm to 5500 nm (radius). We have conducted homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing experiments, freezing-melting cycles, and evaporation studies. To our knowledge, this is the first reported observation of the freezing process for levitated single submicrometer-sized droplets in air using optical trapping techniques. These results show that a temperature-controlled CPBB trap is an attractive new method for studying phase transitions of individual submicrometer aerosol particles.
DOI
We report on a new instrument for single aerosol particle studies at low temperatures that combines an optical trap consisting of two counter-propagating Bessel beams (CPBBs) and temperature control down to 223 K (−50 °C). The apparatus is capable of capturing and stably trapping individual submicrometer- to micrometer-sized aerosol particles for up to several hours. First results from studies of hexadecane, dodecane, and water aerosols reveal that we can trap and freeze supercooled droplets ranging in size from ∼450 nm to 5500 nm (radius). We have conducted homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing experiments, freezing-melting cycles, and evaporation studies. To our knowledge, this is the first reported observation of the freezing process for levitated single submicrometer-sized droplets in air using optical trapping techniques. These results show that a temperature-controlled CPBB trap is an attractive new method for studying phase transitions of individual submicrometer aerosol particles.
DOI
Realization of nonequilibrium thermodynamic processes using external colored noise
Pau Mestres, Ignacio A. Martinez, Antonio Ortiz-Ambriz, Raul A. Rica, and Edgar Roldan
We investigate the dynamics of single microparticles immersed in water that are driven out of equilibrium in the presence of an additional external colored noise. As a case study, we trap a single polystyrene particle in water with optical tweezers and apply an external electric field with flat spectrum but a finite bandwidth of the order of kHz. The intensity of the external noise controls the amplitude of the fluctuations of the position of the particle and therefore of its effective temperature. Here we show, in two different nonequilibrium experiments, that the fluctuations of the work done on the particle obey the Crooks fluctuation theorem at the equilibrium effective temperature, given that the sampling frequency and the noise cutoff frequency are properly chosen.
DOI
We investigate the dynamics of single microparticles immersed in water that are driven out of equilibrium in the presence of an additional external colored noise. As a case study, we trap a single polystyrene particle in water with optical tweezers and apply an external electric field with flat spectrum but a finite bandwidth of the order of kHz. The intensity of the external noise controls the amplitude of the fluctuations of the position of the particle and therefore of its effective temperature. Here we show, in two different nonequilibrium experiments, that the fluctuations of the work done on the particle obey the Crooks fluctuation theorem at the equilibrium effective temperature, given that the sampling frequency and the noise cutoff frequency are properly chosen.
DOI
A method for an approximate determination of a polymer-rich-domain concentration in phase-separated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) aqueous solution by means of confocal Raman microspectroscopy combined with optical tweezers
Tatsuya Shoji, Riku Nohara, Noboru Kitamura, Yasuyuki Tsuboi
The paper demonstrates that a confocal Raman microspectroscope combined with optical tweezers is a promising technique to estimate polymer concentration in polymer-rich domain in phase-separated-aqueous polymer solution. The sample polymer is poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) that is well-known as a representative thermo-responsive polymer. Optical tweezers can selectively trap the polymer-rich domain at the focal point in non-contact and non-intrusive modes. Such situation allows us to determine polymer concentration in the domain, which has been unclear due to a lack of appropriate analytical technique. It is applicable for a variety of other thermo-responsive polymers.
DOI
The paper demonstrates that a confocal Raman microspectroscope combined with optical tweezers is a promising technique to estimate polymer concentration in polymer-rich domain in phase-separated-aqueous polymer solution. The sample polymer is poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) that is well-known as a representative thermo-responsive polymer. Optical tweezers can selectively trap the polymer-rich domain at the focal point in non-contact and non-intrusive modes. Such situation allows us to determine polymer concentration in the domain, which has been unclear due to a lack of appropriate analytical technique. It is applicable for a variety of other thermo-responsive polymers.
DOI
Pulling extremely anisotropic lossy particles using light without intensity gradient
Andrey Novitsky and Cheng-Wei Qiu
We study the effect of pulling optical force acting on a nonmagnetic anisotropic bead in electromagnetic fields without intensity gradient. Extreme anisotropy can be realized by a hyperbolic metamaterial made of metal-dielectric multilayers. We find that a passive anisotropic Rayleigh particle cannot be pulled by the electromagnetic beam without intensity gradient and the nonparaxial incident beams can exert backward negative force acting on anisotropic dipole spheres. We investigate the validity of the dipole approximation and establish the conditions for pulling hyperbolic-metamaterial particles. It is important to note that the loss in hyperbolic metamaterial does not suppress the effect of pulling force. We notice that the nonradial components of the permittivity tensor strongly affect the optical force and propose the way of material engineering to ensure the optical pulling.
DOI
We study the effect of pulling optical force acting on a nonmagnetic anisotropic bead in electromagnetic fields without intensity gradient. Extreme anisotropy can be realized by a hyperbolic metamaterial made of metal-dielectric multilayers. We find that a passive anisotropic Rayleigh particle cannot be pulled by the electromagnetic beam without intensity gradient and the nonparaxial incident beams can exert backward negative force acting on anisotropic dipole spheres. We investigate the validity of the dipole approximation and establish the conditions for pulling hyperbolic-metamaterial particles. It is important to note that the loss in hyperbolic metamaterial does not suppress the effect of pulling force. We notice that the nonradial components of the permittivity tensor strongly affect the optical force and propose the way of material engineering to ensure the optical pulling.
DOI
Nano-optomechanics with optically levitated nanoparticles
Levi P. Neukirch & A. Nick Vamivakas
Nano-optomechanics is a vibrant area of research that continues to push the boundary of quantum science and measurement technology. Recently, it has been realised that the optical forces experienced by polarisable nanoparticles can provide a novel platform for nano-optomechanics with untethered mechanical oscillators. Remarkably, these oscillators are expected to exhibit quality factors approaching . The pronounced quality factors are a direct result of the mechanical oscillator being freed from a supporting substrate. This review provides an overview of the basic optical physics underpinning optical trapping and optical levitation experiments, it discusses a number of experimental approaches to optical trapping and finally outlines possible applications of this nano-optomechanics modality in hybrid quantum systems and nanoscale optical metrology.
DOI
Nano-optomechanics is a vibrant area of research that continues to push the boundary of quantum science and measurement technology. Recently, it has been realised that the optical forces experienced by polarisable nanoparticles can provide a novel platform for nano-optomechanics with untethered mechanical oscillators. Remarkably, these oscillators are expected to exhibit quality factors approaching . The pronounced quality factors are a direct result of the mechanical oscillator being freed from a supporting substrate. This review provides an overview of the basic optical physics underpinning optical trapping and optical levitation experiments, it discusses a number of experimental approaches to optical trapping and finally outlines possible applications of this nano-optomechanics modality in hybrid quantum systems and nanoscale optical metrology.
DOI
Monday, November 17, 2014
Optical trapping of core-shell magnetic microparticles by cylindrical vector beams
Min-Cheng Zhong, Lei Gong, Di Li, Jin-Hua Zhou, Zi-Qiang Wang and Yin-Mei Li
Optical trapping of core-shell magnetic microparticles is experimentally demonstrated by using cylindrical vector beams. Second, we investigate the optical trapping efficiencies. The results show that radially and azimuthally polarized beams exhibit higher axial trapping efficiencies than the Gaussian beam. Finally, a trapped particle is manipulated to kill a cancer cell. The results make possible utilizing magnetic particles for optical manipulation, which is an important advantage for magnetic particles as labeling agent in targeted medicine and biological analysis.
DOI
Optical trapping of core-shell magnetic microparticles is experimentally demonstrated by using cylindrical vector beams. Second, we investigate the optical trapping efficiencies. The results show that radially and azimuthally polarized beams exhibit higher axial trapping efficiencies than the Gaussian beam. Finally, a trapped particle is manipulated to kill a cancer cell. The results make possible utilizing magnetic particles for optical manipulation, which is an important advantage for magnetic particles as labeling agent in targeted medicine and biological analysis.
DOI
Upconversion particle as a local luminescent Brownian probe - a photonic force microscopy study
Flavio M. Mor, Andrzej Sienkiewicz, László Forró, and Sylvia Jeney
Near-infrared (NIR) light sensitive lanthanide-doped NaYF4 upconversion particles (UCPs) are gaining increasing attention as local probes in biomedical applications. Here, we implemented a photonic force microscope (PFM) to manipulate and study the optical properties of trapped single UCPs, β-NaYF4:Yb,Er. In particular, we focused on the mechanisms of the optical trapping of spherical and non-spherical UCPs of different sizes, in the range of 0.5 - 2 μm, as well as on their upconversion photoluminescence (UCL) properties under excitation with a strongly focused laser beam (λ = 1064 nm) of the PFM, operating at power densities up to 14.7 MW cm−2. A careful analysis of UCL under such conditions points to three emission peaks at 469, 503.6 and 616.1 nm, which were not reported before. The analysis of Brownian motion was used to quantify the thermal fluctuations of the particle inside the optical trap as well as the particle sizes and optical forces acting in two dimensions perpendicular to the optical axis. A steep dependence of UCL as a function of the particle diameter was found for UCPs having sizes smaller than the focal spot (900 nm) of the NIR laser.
DOI
Near-infrared (NIR) light sensitive lanthanide-doped NaYF4 upconversion particles (UCPs) are gaining increasing attention as local probes in biomedical applications. Here, we implemented a photonic force microscope (PFM) to manipulate and study the optical properties of trapped single UCPs, β-NaYF4:Yb,Er. In particular, we focused on the mechanisms of the optical trapping of spherical and non-spherical UCPs of different sizes, in the range of 0.5 - 2 μm, as well as on their upconversion photoluminescence (UCL) properties under excitation with a strongly focused laser beam (λ = 1064 nm) of the PFM, operating at power densities up to 14.7 MW cm−2. A careful analysis of UCL under such conditions points to three emission peaks at 469, 503.6 and 616.1 nm, which were not reported before. The analysis of Brownian motion was used to quantify the thermal fluctuations of the particle inside the optical trap as well as the particle sizes and optical forces acting in two dimensions perpendicular to the optical axis. A steep dependence of UCL as a function of the particle diameter was found for UCPs having sizes smaller than the focal spot (900 nm) of the NIR laser.
DOI
Unveiling the correlation between non-diffracting tractor beam and its singularity in Poynting vector
Dongliang Gao, Andrey Novitsky, Tianhang Zhang, Fook Chiong Cheong, Lei Gao, Chwee Teck Lim, Boris Luk'yanchuk and Cheng-Wei Qiu
This paper investigates the singular optics of nonparaxial light beams in the near field when the light behaves as a tractor beam. New insights into the optical pulling force, which is usually represented by integrating the stress tensor at a black box enclosing the object, are interpreted by the optical singularity of the Poynting vector. The negative nonconservative pulling force originates from the transfer of the azimuthal Poynting vector to the longitudinal component partly owing to the presence of a scatterer. The separatrice pattern and singularity shifts of the Poynting vector unanimously exhibit a differentiable near-field distribution in the presence of optical pulling force. A new method is established to calculate the near-field optical force using the differential Poynting vector in the far field. The results obtained provide a clear physical interpretation of the light–matter interaction and manifest the significance of singular optics in manipulating objects.
DOI
This paper investigates the singular optics of nonparaxial light beams in the near field when the light behaves as a tractor beam. New insights into the optical pulling force, which is usually represented by integrating the stress tensor at a black box enclosing the object, are interpreted by the optical singularity of the Poynting vector. The negative nonconservative pulling force originates from the transfer of the azimuthal Poynting vector to the longitudinal component partly owing to the presence of a scatterer. The separatrice pattern and singularity shifts of the Poynting vector unanimously exhibit a differentiable near-field distribution in the presence of optical pulling force. A new method is established to calculate the near-field optical force using the differential Poynting vector in the far field. The results obtained provide a clear physical interpretation of the light–matter interaction and manifest the significance of singular optics in manipulating objects.
DOI
Three-dimensional microfabrication using local electrophoresis deposition and a laser trapping technique
Takanari Takai, Hidenobu Nakao, and Futoshi Iwata
We describe a novel fabrication method of three-dimensional (3D) microstructures using local electrophoresis deposition together with laser trapping. A liquid cell consisting of two-faced conductive substrates was filled with a colloidal solution of Au nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were trapped by a laser spot and positioned on the bottom substrate, then deposited onto the surface by the application of electrical voltage between the two substrates. By moving the liquid cell downward while maintaining the deposition, 3D microstructures were successfully fabricated. The smallest diameter of the fabricated pillar was 500 nm, almost the same as that of the Airy disc. The Young’s modulus of the fabricated structure was 1.5 GPa.
DOI
We describe a novel fabrication method of three-dimensional (3D) microstructures using local electrophoresis deposition together with laser trapping. A liquid cell consisting of two-faced conductive substrates was filled with a colloidal solution of Au nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were trapped by a laser spot and positioned on the bottom substrate, then deposited onto the surface by the application of electrical voltage between the two substrates. By moving the liquid cell downward while maintaining the deposition, 3D microstructures were successfully fabricated. The smallest diameter of the fabricated pillar was 500 nm, almost the same as that of the Airy disc. The Young’s modulus of the fabricated structure was 1.5 GPa.
DOI
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