Purpose: To develop methods for optical manipulation of micro- and nano-scale particles --

• Optical trapping methods are developed and tested as tools for the fabrication of micro-scale sensors. This new generation of micro-scale sensors is to be made from nanoscale materials that are also currently in development. Optical trapping is under development in air and vacuum environments as well as the more traditional water medium. Multiple optical traps can be made from a single laser beam using a spatial light modulator. The orbital angular momentum of a Laguerre-Gaussian mode laser beam is used to rotate small parts. Horizontal movement of optically levitated particles in air has been accomplished

• Supports research in the Optical Instrumentation and NDE Technology Branch.
• POC: Susan Y Wrbanek