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Single Gradientless Light Beam Drags Particles as Tractor Beams

Andrey Novitsky, Cheng-Wei Qiu, and Haifeng Wang
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 203601 – Published 10 November 2011
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Abstract

Usually a light beam pushes a particle when the photons act upon it. We investigate the optical forces by nonparaxial gradientless beams and find that the forces can drag suitable particles all the way towards the light source. The major criterion of realizing the backward dragging force is the strong nonparaxiality of the light beam, which contributes to the pulling force owing to momentum conservation. The nonparaxiality of the Bessel beam can be manipulated to possess a dragging force along both the radial longitudinal directions, i.e., a “tractor beam” with stable trajectories is achieved.

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  • Received 7 March 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.203601

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Tractor Beams Shine Light in the Shadows

Published 10 November 2011

Theorists have devised two new ways to drag objects towards a light source.

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Authors & Affiliations

Andrey Novitsky1, Cheng-Wei Qiu2,*, and Haifeng Wang3

  • 1DTU Fotonik, Department of Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds plads 343, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore
  • 3Data Storage Institute (DSI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, DSI Building, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117608, Singapore

  • *eleqc@nus.edu.sg

See Also

Negative Nonconservative Forces: Optical “Tractor Beams” for Arbitrary Objects

S. Sukhov and A. Dogariu
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 203602 (2011)

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 20 — 11 November 2011

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