Steady state of overdamped particles in the non-conservative force field of a simple non-linear model of optical trap

Optically trapped particles are often subject to a non-conservative scattering force arising from radiation pressure. In this paper, we present an exact solution for the steady state statistics of an overdamped Brownian particle subjected to a commonly used force field model for an optical trap. The model is the simplest of its kind that takes into account non-conservative forces. In particular, we present the exact results for certain marginals of the full three-dimensional steady state probability distribution, in addition to results for the toroidal probability currents that are present in the steady state, as well as for the circulation of these currents. Our analytical results are confirmed by numerical solution of the steady state Fokker–Planck equation.

Spheroidal trap shell beyond diffraction limit induced by nonlinear effects in femtosecond laser trapping

Beyond diffraction limit, multitrapping of nanoparticles is important in numerous scientific fields, including biophysics, materials science and quantum optics. Here, we demonstrate the 3-dimensional (3D) shell-like structure of optical trapping well induced by nonlinear optical effects in the femtosecond Gaussian beam trapping for the first time. Under the joint action of gradient force, scattering force and nonlinear trapping force, the gold nanoparticles can be stably trapped in some special positions, or hop between the trap positions along a route within the 3D shell. The separation between the trap positions can be adjusted by laser power and numerical aperture (NA) of the trapping objective lens. With a high NA lens, we achieved dual traps with less than 100 nm separation without utilizing complicated optical systems or any on-chip nanostructures. These curious findings will greatly extend and deepen our understanding of optical trapping based on nonlinear interaction and generate novel applications in various fields, such as microfabrication/nanofabrication, sensing and novel micromanipulations.

Optical nanomanipulation on solid substrates via optothermally-gated photon nudging

Constructing colloidal particles into functional nanostructures, materials, and devices is a promising yet challenging direction. Many optical techniques have been developed to trap, manipulate, assemble, and print colloidal particles from aqueous solutions into desired configurations on solid substrates. However, these techniques operated in liquid environments generally suffer from pattern collapses, Brownian motion, and challenges that come with reconfigurable assembly. Here, we develop an all-optical technique, termed optothermally-gated photon nudging (OPN), for the versatile manipulation and dynamic patterning of a variety of colloidal particles on a solid substrate at nanoscale accuracy. OPN takes advantage of a thin surfactant layer to optothermally modulate the particle-substrate interaction, which enables the manipulation of colloidal particles on solid substrates with optical scattering force. Along with in situ optical spectroscopy, our non-invasive and contactless nanomanipulation technique will find various applications in nanofabrication, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, and colloidal sciences.

Formation of the reverse flow of energy in a sharp focus

It was theoretically shown that in the interference pattern of four plane waves with specially selected directions of linear polarization it is formed a reverse flow of energy. The areas of direct and reverse flow alternate in a staggered order in the cross section of the interference pattern. The absolute value of the reverse flow directly depends on the angle of convergence of the plane waves (on the angle between the wave vector and the optical axis) and reach the maximum at an angle of convergence close to 90 degrees. The right-handed triples of the vectors of four plane waves (the wave vector with positive values of projection to optical axis and the vector of electric and magnetic fields) when added in certain areas of the interference pattern form an electromagnetic field described by the left-handed triple of vectors; however, the projection of wave vector to optical axis has negative values. In these areas, the light propagates in the opposite direction. A similar explanation of the mechanism of the formation of a reverse flow can be applied to the case of a sharp focusing of a laser beam with a second-order polarization singularity. It is also shown that if a spherical dielectric Rayleigh nanoparticle is placed in the backflow region, then a force directed in the opposite direction will act on it (the scattering force will be more than the gradient force).

Enhancement of optical force acting on vesicles via the binding of gold nanoparticles

Here we found that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) enhance the optical force acting on vesicles prepared from phospholipids via hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. A laser beam was introduced into a cuvette filled with a suspension of vesicles and it accelerated them in its propagation direction via a scattering force. The addition of the AuNPs exponentially increased the velocity of the vesicles as their concentration increased, but polystyrene particles had no significant impact on velocity in the presence of AuNPs. To elucidate the mechanism of the increased velocity, the surface charges in the vesicles and the AuNPs were controlled; the surface charges of the vesicles were varied via the use of anionic, cationic and neutral phospholipids, whereas AuNPs with positive and negative charges were synthesized by coating with citrate ion and 4-dimethylaminopyridine, respectively. All vesicles increased the velocity at different degrees depending on the surface charge. The vesicles were accelerated more efficiently when their charges were opposite those of the AuNPs. These results suggested that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the vesicles and the AuNPs enhanced the optical force. By accounting for the binding constant between the vesicles and the AuNPs, we proposed a model for the relationship between the concentration of the AuNPs and the velocity of the vesicles. Consequently, the increased velocity of the vesicles was attributed to the light scattering that was enhanced when AuNPs were adsorbed onto the vesicles.

Tunable optical lattices in the near-field of a few-mode nanophotonic waveguide

Due to the action of the scattering force, particles that are optically trapped at the surface of a waveguide are propelled in the direction of the light propagation. In this work, we demonstrate an original approach for creating tunable periodic arrays of optical traps along a few-mode silicon nanophotonic waveguide. We show how the near-field optical forces at the surface of the waveguide are periodically modulated when two guided modes with different propagation constants are simultaneously excited. The phenomenon is used to achieve stable trapping of a large number of dielectric particles or bacteria along a single waveguide. By controlling the light coupling conditions and the laser wavelength, we investigate several techniques for manipulating the trapped particles. Especially, we demonstrate that the period of the optical lattice can be finely tuned by adjusting the laser wavelength. This effect can be used to control the trap positions, and thus transport the trapped particles in both directions along the waveguide.