Open AccessPhotovoltaic versus optical tweezers
Author(s) -
Javier Villarroel,
Héctor Burgos,
A. GarcíaCabañes,
M. Carrascosa,
Alfonso BlázquezCastro,
F. AgullóLópez
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.024320
Subject(s) - optical tweezers , optics , tweezers , light beam , photovoltaic system , materials science , refractive index , gaussian beam , optoelectronics , physics , beam (structure) , ecology , biology
The operation of photovoltaic (PV) tweezers, using the evanescent light-induced PV fields to trap and pattern nano- and micro-meter particles on a LiNbO(3) crystal surface, is discussed. The case of a periodic light pattern is addressed in detail, including the role of particle shape and the modulation index of the light pattern. The use of a single Gaussian light beam is also considered. Illustrative experiments for the two situations are presented. The performance of such PV tweezers in comparison to the best established case of optical tweezers, using optical forces, is considered. Differential features between the two trapping approaches are remarked.