Abstract
We trap a single silica microparticle in a complex three-dimensional optical potential with orbital angular momentum in vacuum. The potential is formed by the generation of a "perfect vortex" in vacuum which, upon propagation, evolves to a Bessel light field. The optical gradient and scattering forces interplay with the inertial and gravitational forces acting on the trapped particle to produce a rich variety of orbital motions with respect to the propagation axis. As a result, the particle undergoes a complex trajectory, part of which is rotational motion in the plane of the "perfect vortex." As the particle explores the whole three-dimensional volume and is not solely restricted to one anchor point, we are able to determine the three-dimensional optical potential in situ by tracking the particle. This represents the first demonstration of trapping a microparticle within a complex threedimensional optical potential in vacuum. This may open up new perspectives in levitated optomechanics with particle dynamics on complex trajectories.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | C14-C19 |
Journal | Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 Jun 1 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017 Optical Society of America.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics