Electromagnetic Trap Multiplexing
AssigneeBrigham Young University
InventorsDaniel Smalley, Braden Huffman, Stephen Griffith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Time multiplexing an electromagnetic trap beam may be used to generate trap shapes/geometries to trap one or more particles with one electromagnetic beam by directing the electromagnetic beam at a pattern of different locations with sufficient rapidity to form an effective shape/geometry. Additionally, multiplexing an electromagnetic trap beam may be used to shutter trapping electromagnetic radiation to protect a viewer, use the same beam for multiple functions, move and organize particles, and generate illumination effects.
Claims7
A method for manipulating a particle, comprising:
- using an acousto-optic modulator, wherein the acoustic-optic modulator has an acoustic wave that gives rise to a diffraction grating within the acousto-optic modulator, and which cyclically undergoes spatial displacement over time along a displacement pattern;
- at a first time, when the grating is in a first position along the displacement pattern, using the acousto-optic modulator to emit a beam directed at the particle;
- wherein:
- at the first time an obstructing particle does not fully obstruct the beam emitted at the first time from interacting with the particle;
- and
- at a second time, when the grating is in a second position along the displacement pattern, a beam emitted by the acousto-optic modulator and directed at the particle would be fully or partially obstructed by the obstructing particle from interacting with the particle.
A method for manipulating a particle, comprising:
- using an acousto-optic modulator, wherein the acoustic-optic modulator has an acoustic wave that gives rise to a diffraction grating within the acousto-optic modulator, and which cyclically undergoes spatial displacement over time along a displacement pattern;
- at a first time, when the grating is in a first position along the displacement pattern, using the acousto-optic modulator to emit a beam directed at the particle;
- at a third time, when the grating is in a third position along the displacement pattern, using the acousto-optic modulator to emit a beam directed at the particle;
- wherein:
- at the first time an obstructing particle does not fully obstruct the beam emitted at the first time from interacting with the particle;
- at the third time an obstructing particle does not fully obstruct the beam emitted at the first time from interacting with the particle;
- and
- at a second time, when the grating is in a second position along the displacement pattern, a beam emitted by the acousto-optic modulator and directed at the particle is or would be fully or partially obstructed by the obstructing particle from interacting with the particle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.