Extended and knotted optical traps in three dimensions
AssigneeNew York University
InventorsDavid G. Grier, Elisabeth R. Shanblatt
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Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a system and method for projecting holographic optical traps whose intensity maxima are extended along specified paths in three dimensions with specified amplitude and phase profiles along those paths. Specifying paths that constitute knotted loops and phase profiles that direct radiation pressure along the knotted paths yields optical traps that exert knotted force fields. Knotted optical force fields have uses for inducing motion along knotted paths, with applications including the generation of knotted electric current loops in plasmas.
Claims26
A method of creating a knotted optical trap comprising:
- generating a collimated beam of light;
- imprinting a hologram on the beam of light;
- projecting the beam of light through an objective lens;
- and
- focusing the projected beam of light along a curve {right arrow over (R)}0(s)=(x0(s),y0(s),z0(s)), parameterized by its arc length s, along which the amplitude a0(s) and phase φ0(s) are specified.
An apparatus for creating a knotted optical trap comprising:
- a collimated light source;
- a spatial light modulator;
- an objective lens,
- wherein a beam of light from the collimated light is imprinted by the spatial light modulated with a hologram projecting the beam of light along a curve {right arrow over (R)}0(s)=(x0(s),y0(s),z0(s)), parameterized by its arc length s, along which the amplitude a0(s) and phase φ0(s) are specified.
An method for controlling plasma comprising:
- projecting a knotted optical trap in the plasma;
- initiating a knotted current loop in the plasma;
- wherein the magnetic field lines of the current loop do not pass through each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.