Open AccessAcousto-optically generated potential energy landscapes: Potential mapping using colloids under flow
Author(s) -
Michael P. N. Juniper,
R. Besseling,
Dirk G. A. L. Aarts,
Roel P. A. Dullens
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.028707
Subject(s) - optical tweezers , optical force , optics , potential energy , ranging , gaussian , stiffness , trap (plumbing) , energy (signal processing) , thermal , materials science , physics , classical mechanics , geology , geodesy , quantum mechanics , meteorology , composite material
Optical potential energy landscapes created using acousto-optical deflectors are characterized via solvent-driven colloidal particles. The full potential energy of both single optical traps and complex landscapes composed of multiple overlapping traps are determined using a simple force balance argument. The potential of a single trap is shown to be well described by a Gaussian trap with stiffness found to be consistent with those obtained by a thermal equilibrium method. We also obtain directly the depth of the well, which (as with stiffness) varies with laser power. Finally, various complex systems ranging from double-well potentials to random landscapes are generated from individually controlled optical traps. Predictions of these landscapes as a sum of single Gaussian wells are shown to be a good description of experimental results, offering the potential for fully controlled design of optical landscapes, constructed from single optical traps.