Abstract
The Airy wavepacket solution for a free particle exhibits propagation invariance and, surprisingly, acceleration transverse to the propagation direction. Discovered as a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation, Airy wavepackets have been predicted, and in a recent major step forward, realized in the optical domain, but have never been used in any application. In this Letter we demonstrate the first use of the Airy light beam in optical micromanipulation. Based on the characteristic intensity pattern, the beam drags particles into the main intensity maximum, which guides particles vertically along a parabolic trajectory. This unusual property of Airy beams leads to a new feature in optical micromanipulation - the removal of particles and cells from a section of a sample chamber. We term this highly robust and efficient process 'optically mediated particle clearing', which enables novel microfluidic applications within the colloidal and biological sciences.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 675-678 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Nature Photonics |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 Nov 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
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Optically mediated particle clearing using Airy wavepackets. / Baumgartl, Jörg; Mazilu, Michael; Dholakia, Kishan.
In: Nature Photonics, Vol. 2, No. 11, 01.11.2008, p. 675-678.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Optically mediated particle clearing using Airy wavepackets
AU - Baumgartl, Jörg
AU - Mazilu, Michael
AU - Dholakia, Kishan
PY - 2008/11/1
Y1 - 2008/11/1
N2 - The Airy wavepacket solution for a free particle exhibits propagation invariance and, surprisingly, acceleration transverse to the propagation direction. Discovered as a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation, Airy wavepackets have been predicted, and in a recent major step forward, realized in the optical domain, but have never been used in any application. In this Letter we demonstrate the first use of the Airy light beam in optical micromanipulation. Based on the characteristic intensity pattern, the beam drags particles into the main intensity maximum, which guides particles vertically along a parabolic trajectory. This unusual property of Airy beams leads to a new feature in optical micromanipulation - the removal of particles and cells from a section of a sample chamber. We term this highly robust and efficient process 'optically mediated particle clearing', which enables novel microfluidic applications within the colloidal and biological sciences.
AB - The Airy wavepacket solution for a free particle exhibits propagation invariance and, surprisingly, acceleration transverse to the propagation direction. Discovered as a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation, Airy wavepackets have been predicted, and in a recent major step forward, realized in the optical domain, but have never been used in any application. In this Letter we demonstrate the first use of the Airy light beam in optical micromanipulation. Based on the characteristic intensity pattern, the beam drags particles into the main intensity maximum, which guides particles vertically along a parabolic trajectory. This unusual property of Airy beams leads to a new feature in optical micromanipulation - the removal of particles and cells from a section of a sample chamber. We term this highly robust and efficient process 'optically mediated particle clearing', which enables novel microfluidic applications within the colloidal and biological sciences.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=55249099287&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/nphoton.2008.201
DO - 10.1038/nphoton.2008.201
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:55249099287
VL - 2
SP - 675
EP - 678
JO - Nature Photonics
JF - Nature Photonics
SN - 1749-4885
IS - 11
ER -