Apparatus for applying optical gradient forces
AssigneeArch Development Corporation
InventorsDavid G. Grier, Eric R. Dufresne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for manipulating small dielectric particles. The apparatus and method involves use of a diffractive optical element which receives a laser beam and forms a plurality of light beams. These light beams are operated on by a telescope lens system and then an objective lens element to create an array of optical traps for manipulating small dielectric particles.
Claims49
An apparatus for manipulating particles by forming an optical trap, comprising:
- a diffractive optical element for receiving a light beam and forming a plurality of separate light beams;
- and
- a focusing element downstream from said diffractive optical element, said diffractive optical element cooperating with said focusing element to separately converge each of the light beams to form a focussed spot to establish means for forming a separate optical trap within the spot for each of the particles using one of the separate light beams for each particle.
An apparatus for manipulating particles by forming a plurality of optical traps, comprising:
- a diffractive optical element for receiving a laser beam and forming a plurality of separate light beams;
- a first telescope lens system disposed downstream from said diffractive optical element after interaction of the light beam with said diffractive element;
- and
- optical means for individually converging the separate light beam output from said diffractive optical element and said telescope lens system said optical means, said telescope lens system and said diffractive optical element cooperating to provide means for forming an optical trap for each of the particles.
A method for manipulating small dielectric particles, comprising the steps of:
- generating a laser beam;
- inputting the laser beam to a diffractive element, passing the diffracted laser beam through a telescope lens system;
- and
- focusing the laser beam output from the telescope lens system to form an optical trap for manipulating the small dielectric particles.
A system including an apparatus for manipulating a plurality of particles and also including a desired array of particles, comprising:
- a light source for producing a light beam;
- a diffractive optical element for receiving the light beam and forming a plurality of separate light beams;
- a focusing element downstream from said diffractive optical element, said diffractive optical element cooperating with said focusing element to provide means for forming a separate light beam spot for forming an optical trap within the separate spot for each of the particles using one of the separate light beams for each particle;
- and
- a plurality of particles positioned by said means for forming an optical trap to form a desired array of said plurality of particles.
An apparatus for manipulating particles by forming an optical trap, comprising:
- a diffractive optical element for receiving a light beam and forming a plurality of separate light beams;
- at least one telescope lens system disposed downstream from said diffractive optical element after interaction of the light beam with said diffractive element;
- and
- a focusing element downstream from said diffractive optical element, said diffractive optical element cooperating with said focusing element to separately converge each of the light beams to establish means for forming a separate optical trap for each of the particles using one of the separate light beams for each particle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.