Multiple optical traps from a single laser beam using a mechanical element

Abstract

The use of a wire mesh facilitates creation of multiple optical traps for manipulation of small micron or sub-micron particles. Such an array of optical traps can be easily controlled. The trap that is formed in this manner is a continuous trap; it obviates the need to time share a laser beam among a set of positions, as is presently done in conventional multiple traps.

8 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Applied Physics Letters in January 2006