Method and apparatus for non-contact axial particle rotation and decoupled particle propulsion

A method for rotating and translating at least one particle, the method comprising:

• generating and applying a magnetic force and torque upon at least one particle, wherein the at least one particle includes at least two segments, each of which contains a magnetizable material;
• applying the magnetic force to at least one segment in order to cause translational motion of the particle;
• and
• applying the magnetic torque to at least one other segment in order to cause rotational motion of the particle,
• wherein magnetic torque causing rotation of the at least one particle is decoupled from the magnetic force causing translational motion of the at least one particle, and
• wherein a ratio of the resultant translational and rotational velocities of the particle is variable.

A particle comprising:

• at least two magnetic segments,
• wherein at least one of the at least two magnetic segments has a length at least twice the diameter of the particle and is magnetized parallel to a major axis of the particle,
• wherein at least one other segment of the at least two magnetic segments has a length that is less than the diameter of the particle and is magnetized perpendicular to the major axis of the particle,
• wherein magnetization and dimensions of the at least two magnetic segments of the particle configure the particle to be independently rotated and translated in response to application of external magnetic gradients to the particle such that magnetic torque causing rotation of the particle is decoupled from the magnetic force causing translational motion of the particle, and
• wherein the ratio of the translational and rotational velocities of the particle is variable.