Optical Hoovering on Plasmonic Rinks

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates plasmon-assisted optical hoovering of water drops on gold surfaces, showing potential for innovative microfluidic and sensing applications through plasmonic surface wave manipulation.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of optical hoovering using plasmonic surface waves and provides experimental proof of principle with analysis of variability factors.

Findings

Water drops can be hoovered on gold surfaces using plasmonic excitation.

Surface roughness affects the thresholds and movement of drops.

The technique has potential applications in microfluidics and sensing.

Abstract

Excitation of surface waves on conducting materials provides a near resistance-free interface capable of a material glissade either by plasmon forces or optical beam tractors. Analogous to an ice hockey rink, as proof of principle plasmon assisted optical traction, or hoovering, of water drops on a gold surface is demonstrated. Variability in thresholds and movement is observed and can be explained by the presence of significant roughness, measured by SEM. The demonstration opens a path to directly integrate various optical and plasmonic glissade technologies. Ways of improving transport and potential applications spanning configurable microfluidics, antennas, diagnostics,sensing and active devices are discussed.