Optical tweezers as a mathematically driven spatio-temporal potential generator

TL;DR

This paper presents an optical feedback trap system that uses high-precision detection and ultrafast control to generate customizable spatio-temporal virtual potentials, enabling advanced manipulation of particles in various scientific applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel optical feedback system capable of creating dynamic virtual potentials with precise control, advancing the manipulation of particles in optical tweezers.

Findings

Validated Crooks fluctuation theorem in highly nonequilibrium conditions

Demonstrated control over particle dynamics in time-varying virtual potentials

Showed potential for precise spatio-temporal manipulation in diverse fields

Abstract

The ability to create and manipulate the spatio-temporal potentials is essential in the diverse fields of science and technology. Here, we introduce an optical feedback trap system based on a high precision position detection and an ultrafast feedback control of a Brownian particle in the optical tweezers to generate spatio-temporal virtual potentials of the desired shape in a controlled manner. As an application, we study nonequilibrium fluctuation dynamics of the particle in a time-varying virtual harmonic potential and validate the Crooks fluctuation theorem in highly nonequilibrium condition.