Apparatus for using optical tweezers to manipulate materials
US6626546B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/425
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for control of optical trap arrays and formation of particle arrays using light that is in the visible portion of the spectrum. The method and apparatus provides a laser and a time variable diffractive optical element to allow dynamic control of optical trap arrays and consequent control of particle arrays and also the ability to manipulate singular objects using a plurality of optical traps. By avoiding wavelengths associated with strong absorption in the underlying material, creating optical traps with a continuous-wave laser, optimizing the efficiency of individual traps, and trapping extended samples at multiple points, the rate of deleterious nonlinear optical processes can be minimized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.