System and method for manipulating and processing materials using holographic optical trapping

A method of manipulating materials in a fluidic medium, comprising:

• utilizing an optical training apparatus by modulating a laser beam with a Dynamic Optical Element (DOE) to produce optical traps;
• selectively illuminating the materials in said fluidic medium with one of said laser beam or said optical traps;
• wherein said materials are thermal absorbers;
• wherein the materials are selectively illuminated in the fluidic medium to form selected patterns in the fluidic medium;
• and
• trapping one of the materials in a Bessel trap;
• superimposing an optical trap on said Bessel trap thereby illuminating an interior of said Bessel trap;
• and
• producing fluidic flow in said Bessel trap independent of said Bessel trap.

An apparatus for manipulating materials in a fluidic medium, comprising:

• a laser for generating a laser beam;
• and
• a dynamic optical element (DOE) for producing a plurality of Bessel beams in a Bessel trap;
• wherein said Bessel beams trap said materials in said Bessel trap, thereby illuminating an interior of said Bessel trap causing selected fluid flow therein;
• and
• wherein said fluidic flow in said Bessel trap is independent of said Bessel trap.

An apparatus for manipulating materials in a fluidic medium, comprising:

• a laser for generating a laser beam;
• and
• a dynamic optical element (DOE) for producing a plurality of optical traps;
• a plurality of surfaces disposed in said fluidic medium;
• wherein an optical traps is established between at least two of said plurality of surfaces, forming a conductive path therebetween;
• wherein the materials in the fluidic medium collect along said conductive path;
• wherein said optical traps forming said conductive paths are Bessel beams.

An apparatus for manipulating materials, comprising:

• an optical trapping apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam;
• a dynamic optical element (DOE) for modulating said laser beam to produce a plurality of optical traps;
• wherein said DOE is a spatial light modulator or digital light processor which generates holograms having a characteristic which is related to a property of the materials;
• and
• a computer which calculates each said characteristic of each of said holograms based on each said property of the materials, to tailor said holograms to each said property of the materials;
• wherein said property is at least one of size, conductivity, chirality, or refractive index;
• and
• wherein said laser beam is generated having a selected wavelength corresponding to said selected property.

A method of manipulating materials, comprising:

• utilizing an optical trapping apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam, and a dynamic optical element (DOE) for producing a plurality of optical traps;
• wherein said DOE is a spatial light modulator or digital light processor which generates holograms having a characteristic which is related to a characteristic of the materials;
• and
• calculating each said characteristic of each of said holograms based on each said characteristic of the materials, to tailor said holograms to each said characteristic of the materials;
• wherein said characteristic is at least one of size, conductivity, chirality, or refractive index;
• and
• wherein said laser beam is generated having a selected wavelength corresponding to said selected characteristic.

A method of manipulating materials in a fluidic medium, comprising:

• providing a plurality of surfaces disposed in the fluidic medium;
• utilizing an optical trapping apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam, and a dynamic optical element (DOE) for producing a plurality of optical traps;
• establishing optical traps between at least two of said plurality of surfaces, forming a conductive path therebetween;
• and
• collecting the materials in the fluidic medium along a plurality of conductive paths;
• wherein said optical trays forming said conductive paths are Bessel beams.

A method manipulating materials in a fluidic medium, comprising:

• providing a plurality of surfaces disposed in the fluidic medium;
• utilizing an optical trapping apparutus including a laser for generating a laser beam, and a dynamic optical element (DOE) for producing a plurality of optical traps;
• establishing optical traps between at least two of said plurality of surfaces, forming a conductive path therebetween;
• collecting the materials in the fluidic medium along said conducting path;
• and
• forming a switchable wire comprising a plurality of conductive particles by trapping said conductive particles in Bessel beams in sufficient proximity to support a current.