Directed assembly of optically bound matter.

Journal article

We present a study of optically bound matter formation in a counter-propagating evanescent field, exploiting total internal reflection on a prism surface. Small ensembles of silica microspheres are assembled in a controlled manner using optical tweezers. The structures and dynamics of the resulting optically bound chains are interpreted using a simulation implementing generalized Lorentz-Mie theory. In particular, we observe enhancement of the scattering force along the propagation direction of the optically bound colloidal chains leading to a microscopic analogue of a driven pendulum which, at least superficially, resembles Newton's cradle.

Authors: Summers, MD; Dear, R; Taylor, J; Ritchie, G

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Optical Society of American (OSA)
• Journal: Optics express
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 1001-1012
• Publication date: 2012-01-01
• DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.001001
• EISSN: 1094-4087
• ISSN: 1094-4087
• Language: English
• Keywords: Silicon Dioxide; Computer Simulation; Equipment Design; Microscopy; Microspheres; Nonlinear Dynamics; Normal Distribution; Optical Tweezers; Light; Optics and Photonics; Scattering, Radiation