Holographic optical trapping

TL;DR

Holographic optical trapping employs computer-generated holograms to create customizable, precise three-dimensional optical traps capable of manipulating microscopic objects with high resolution and real-time reconfigurability.

Contribution

This paper introduces holographic optical tweezers that use advanced hologram techniques for flexible, precise manipulation of mesoscopic objects in three dimensions.

Findings

Able to exert controlled forces and torques on objects from nanometers to hundreds of micrometers

Achieves nanometer-scale spatial resolution and real-time reconfigurability

Demonstrates applications in fundamental research and industry

Abstract

Holographic optical tweezers use computer-generated holograms to create arbitrary three-dimensional configurations of single-beam optical traps useful for capturing, moving and transforming mesoscopic objects. Through a combination of beam-splitting, mode forming, and adaptive wavefront correction, holographic traps can exert precisely specified and characterized forces and torques on objects ranging in size from a few nanometers to hundreds of micrometers. With nanometer-scale spatial resolution and real-time reconfigurability, holographic optical traps offer extraordinary access to the microscopic world and already have found applications in fundamental research and industrial applications.