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Optically Trapped Gold Nanoparticle Enables Listening at the Microscale

Alexander Ohlinger, Andras Deak, Andrey A. Lutich, and Jochen Feldmann
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 018101 – Published 3 January 2012
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Abstract

We explore a new application of optical tweezers for ultrasensitive detection of sound waves in liquid media. Position tracking of a single gold nanoparticle confined in a three-dimensional optical trap is used to readout acoustic vibrations at a sound power level down to 60dB, causing a 90μeV increase in kinetic energy of the nanoparticle. The unprecedented sensitivity of such a nanoear is achieved by processing the nanoparticle’s motion in the frequency domain. The concept developed here will enable us to access the interior of biological microorganisms and micromechanical machines not accessible by other microscopy types.

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  • Received 16 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.018101

© 2012 American Physical Society

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A Trapped Nanoparticle Listens In

Published 3 January 2012

By tracking the tiny displacements of a nanoparticle trapped in an optical tweezer, scientists are able to detect the faintest of acoustic waves.

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Authors & Affiliations

Alexander Ohlinger, Andras Deak, Andrey A. Lutich*, and Jochen Feldmann

  • Photonics and Optoelectronics Group, Physics Department and CeNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Amalienstraße 54, 80799 Munich, Germany

  • *andrey.lutich@physik.lmu.de,
  • feldmann@lmu.de

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 1 — 6 January 2012

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