Transient chaos and Rayleigh particle escape out of a time modulated optical trap

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Rayleigh particles in a periodically modulated optical trap exhibit transient chaos, leading to particle acceleration and escape, which can be utilized for particle sorting.

Contribution

It demonstrates the occurrence of transient chaos in a modulated optical trap and explores its potential for particle sorting based on escape thresholds.

Findings

Particles exhibit transient chaos with directional ejection.

Escape distances reach hundreds of wavelengths.

Escape is a threshold effect suitable for sorting.

Abstract

We consider Rayleigh particles in a periodically modulated optical trap formed by two counter-propagating Gaussian beams. It is shown that for certain values of parameters the system exhibits transient chaos which manifests itself in particle acceleration and subsequent directional ejection out of the trap. The escape flights are terminated at the distance of hundreds wavelengths from the trap centrum and the particles return to the trap under the action of the Stokes force. The particle escape is shown to be a threshold effect that can be potentially employed for particle sorting.