Structures resistant to Manipulation by all Wavefronts in two dimensions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the existence of objects in two dimensions that are resistant to manipulation by all wavefronts, even with optimal shaping, revealing fundamental limits in light-based particle control.

Contribution

The study introduces inverse design methods to identify objects resistant to wavefront shaping, extending understanding of manipulation limits in two-dimensional systems.

Findings

Maximal pulling force reduced by up to four orders of magnitude.

Maximal trapping stiffness reduced by nearly two orders of magnitude.

Objects resistant to manipulation exist despite optimal wavefront shaping.

Abstract

Using light to manipulate small particles is a powerful tool with numerous practical applications across biophysics and nanotechnology. This experimental technique has achieved significant performance gains by employing shaped wavefronts, most commonly generated with spatial light modulators. Wavefront shaping has also enabled the manipulation of seemingly arbitrary objects beyond the reach of conventional beams. Contrary to this established assumption, we show here the existence of a wide variety of objects resistant to manipulation, even with the optimal wavefront shaping protocol. The counterintuitive shapes of these objects are found using inverse design in two dimensions, providing a foundation for their natural extension to three dimensions. Specifically, we show that the maximal pulling force is reduced by up to four orders of magnitude, and the maximal trapping stiffness is reduced by up to nearly two orders of magnitude. Our findings could prove useful for the development of micromachines that require a predictable mechanical response to arbitrary waves.