Trapping solid aerosols with optical tweezers: A comparison between gas and liquid phase optical traps

M. D. Summers, D. R. Burnham, D. McGloin

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    65 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We demonstrate a method for the optical trapping of solid aerosol particles. Suspension of silica particles in ethanol allows their delivery to the trapping volume using a commercial medical nebulizer. The ethanol quickly evaporates, leaving the solid particles trapped in air. We use the technique to make comparisons between aerosol and colloid tweezing through power spectra analysis of the particle's positions fluctuations for identical particles trapped in a water or air suspending medium. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)7739-7747
    Number of pages9
    JournalOptics Express
    Volume16
    Issue number11
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 26 May 2008

    Keywords

    • RADIATION PRESSURE
    • DIELECTRIC PARTICLES
    • LEVITATION
    • DROPLETS
    • SCATTERING
    • LIGHT
    • MICRODROPLETS
    • MANIPULATION
    • FORCES

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