Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate a class of tractor beams created by coherently superposing coaxial Bessel beams. These optical conveyors have periodic intensity variations along their axes that act as highly effective optical traps for micrometer-scale objects. Trapped objects can be moved selectively upstream or downstream along the conveyor by appropriately changing the Bessel beams’ relative phase. The same methods used to project a single optical conveyor can project arrays of independent optical conveyors, allowing bidirectional transport in three dimensions.
- Received 16 August 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.163903
© 2012 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Tiny Tractor Beam
Published 18 October 2012
A carefully prepared light beam can either push or pull tiny particles, like the much larger tractor beams of science fiction.
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