Open AccessRigorous time domain simulation of momentum transfer between light and microscopic particles in optical trapping
Author(s) -
Dianwen Zhang,
X.-C. Yuan,
Swee Chuan Tjin,
Krishnan Sathiyamoorthy
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.12.002220
Subject(s) - physics , trapping , optical tweezers , radiation pressure , momentum (technical analysis) , angular momentum , momentum transfer , optical force , optics , radiation trapping , particle (ecology) , optical vortex , computational physics , classical mechanics , radiation , scattering , ecology , oceanography , finance , economics , biology , geology
Laser light can exert forces on matter by exchanging momentum in form of radiation pressure and refraction. Although these forces are small, they are sufficient to trap and manipulate microscopic particles [Phys. Rev. Lett. 24, 156 (1970)]. In this paper, we study the optical trapping phenomena by using computer simulation to show a detailed account of the process of momentum exchange between a focused light and a microscopic particle in an optical trapping by use of the finite difference time domain method. This approach provides a practical routine to predict the magnitude of the exchanged momentum, track the particle in a trapping process, and determine a trapping point, where dynamic equilibrium happens. Here we also theoretically describe the transfer procedure of orbital angular momentum from a focused optical vortex to the particle.