Rotational control within optical tweezers by use of a rotating aperture
- 1 May 2002
- journal article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in Optics Letters
- Vol. 27 (9) , 743-745
- https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.27.000743
Abstract
We demonstrate a simplified method of rotational control of objects trapped within optical tweezers that does not require high-order modes, interferometric precision, or computer-controlled optical modulators. Inserting a rectangular aperture into the optical beam results in a focused spot that also has rectangular symmetry. We show that an asymmetric object trapped in the beam has its angular orientation fixed such that rotation of the aperture results in a direct rotation of the particle.Keywords
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