Suman Anand

Optical manipulation of airborne particles: techniques and applications

In the following paper, we discuss new methods to trap and manipulate airborne liquid aerosol droplets. We discuss the single gradient force trapping of water aerosols in the 2-14 micron diameter range using both 532 nm and 1064 nm light, as well as the holographic optical trapping of arrays of aerosols. Using this holographic technique, we are able to show controlled aerosol coagulation. We also discuss two techniques based on the radiation pressure trapping of aerosols, namely the dual beam fibre trap and the controlled guiding of aerosols using Bessel beams. We conclude with a discussion of new topics for study based upon these techniques and some possible applications.

Experimental study of the phenomenon of 1 × N spectral switch due to diffraction of partially coherent light

Spectral properties of a class of partially coherent light with spectral profiles of varying bandwidths are studied on diffraction by a circular aperture in the far zone for different diffractive angles, i.e., for on-axis and off-axis points on the observation plane. It is found that the spectrum of the light in the far zone is different from that at the aperture plane. This change in the spectrum is termed spectral shift, which is found to be different at different diffractive angles. The spectral shift for a fixed diffactive angle shows a gradual change. However, for a critical value of the coherence at the aperture plane, the spectral shift shows a rapid transition, termed spectral switch. For different diffractive angles the coherence that causes the spectral switch also differs. Therefore the phenomenon of 1 x N spectral switch (consisting of one input port and N output ports) is studied experimentally.

Experimental study of spectral anomalies in a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern

Experimental results of a study, conducted to investigate spectral changes that take place in the vicinity of the dark Airy rings formed by diffraction of spatially coherent, polychromatic light in the far zone of an aperture, are reported. These results are consistent with theoretical work (Ponomarenko and Wolf 2002 Opt. Lett.14 1211).

Dye lasing in optically manipulated liquid aerosols

We report lasing in airborne, rhodamine B-doped glycerol-water droplets with diameters ranging between 7.7 and 11.0 μm, which were localized using optical tweezers. While being trapped near the focal point of an infrared laser, the droplets were pumped with a Q-switched green laser. Our experiments revealed nonlinear dependence of the intensity of the droplet whispering gallery modes (WGMs) on the pump laser fluence, indicating dye lasing. The average wavelength of the lasing WGMs could be tuned between 600 and 630 nm by changing the droplet size. These results may lead to new ways of probing airborne particles, exploiting the high sensitivity of stimulated emission to small perturbations in the droplet laser cavity and the gain medium.

Observation of the binary coalescence and equilibration of micrometer-sized droplets of aqueous aerosol in a single-beam gradient-force optical trap.

The binary coalescence of aqueous droplets has been observed in a single-beam gradient-force optical trap. By measuring the time-dependent intensity for elastic scattering of light from the trapping laser, the dynamics of binary coalescence have been examined and the time scale for equilibration of a composite droplet to ambient conditions has been determined. These data are required for modeling the agglomeration of aqueous droplets in dense sprays and atmospheric aerosol. Elastic-light scattering from optically trapped particles has not been used previously to study the time-resolved dynamics of mixing. It is shown to offer a unique opportunity to characterize the binary coalescence of aqueous droplets with radii from 1 to 6 μm. The study of this size regime, which cannot be achieved by conventional imaging methods, is critical for understanding the interactions of droplets in the environment of dense sprays.

Aerosol droplet optical trap loading using surface acoustic wave nebulization.

We demonstrate the use of surface acoustic wave nebulization (SAWN) to load optical traps. We show that the droplets sizes produced can be tuned by altering the RF frequency applied to the devices, which leads to more control over the sizes of trapped particles. Typically the size distribution of the liquid aerosols delivered using SAWN is smaller than via a standard commercial nebulization device. The ability to trap a range of liquids or small solid particles, not readily accessible using other ultrasonic devices, is also demonstrated both in optical tweezers and dual beam fiber traps.

Optical manipulation of aerosols using surface acoustic wave nebulisation

High density micron sized aerosols from liquid surfaces were generated using surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulisation. The SAWs are made from a set of interdigitated electrodes (IDT) deposited on a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate and are designed to operate around 10MHz. RF powers of ~235mW are used to achieve nebulisation. Power below this results in droplet motion across the substrate surface. The nebulisation process generated aerosols of a narrow size distribution with diameter ranging from 0.5-2 μm. We consider ways in which these aerosols can be loaded into optical traps for further study. In particular we look at how SAW nebulisation can be used to load particles into a trap in a far more robust manner than a conventional nebuliser device. We demonstrate trapping of a range of particle types and sizes and analyse the size distribution of particles as a function of the applied frequency to the SAW device. We show that it is simpler to load, in particular, solid particles into optical traps using this technique compared to conventional nebulisation. We also consider the possibilities for loading nanoparticles into aerosol optical tweezers.

Droplet resonator based optofluidic microlasers

We introduce tunable optofluidic microlasers based on active optical resonant cavities formed by optically stretched, dye-doped emulsion droplets confined in a dual-beam optical trap. To achieve tunable dye lasing, optically pumped droplets of oil dispersed in water are stretched by light in the dual-beam trap. Subsequently, resonant path lengths of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) propagating in the droplet are modified, leading to shifts in the microlaser emission wavelengths. We also report lasing in airborne, Rhodamine B-doped glycerolwater droplets which were localized using optical tweezers. While being trapped near the focal point of an infrared laser, the droplets were pumped with a Q-switched green laser. Furthermore, biological lasing in droplets supported by a superhydrophobic surface is demonstrated using a solution of Venus variant of the yellow fluorescent protein or E. Coli bacterial cells expressing stably the Venus protein. Our results may lead to new ways of probing airborne particles, exploiting the high sensitivity of stimulated emission to small perturbations in the droplet laser cavity and the gain medium.

Analysis of optical trap mediated aerosol coalescence

The use of optical tweezers for the analysis of aerosols is valuable for understanding the dynamics of atmospherically relevant particles. However to be able to make accurate measurements that can be directly tied to real-world phenomena it is important that we understand the influence of the optical trap on those processes. One process that is seemingly straightforward to study with these techniques is binary droplet coalescence, either using dual beam traps, or by particle collision with a single trapped droplet. This binary coalescence is also of interest in many other processes that make use of dense aerosol sprays such as spray drying and the use of inhalers for drug delivery in conditions such as asthma or hay fever. In this presentation we discuss the use of high speed (~5000 frames per second) video microscopy to track the dynamics of particles as they approach and interact with a trapped aqueous droplet and develop this analysis further by considering elastic light scattering from droplets as they undergo coalescence. We find that we are able to characterize the re-equilibration time of droplets of the same phase after they interact and that the trajectories taken by airborne particles influenced by an optical trap are often quite complex. We also examine the role of parameters such as the salt concentration of the aqueous solutions used and the influence of laser wavelength.The use of optical tweezers for the analysis of aerosols is valuable for understanding the dynamics of atmospherically relevant particles. However to be able to make accurate measurements that can be directly tied to real-world phenomena it is important that we understand the influence of the optical trap on those processes. One process that is seemingly straightforward to study with these techniques is binary droplet coalescence, either using dual beam traps, or by particle collision with a single trapped droplet. This binary coalescence is also of interest in many other processes that make use of dense aerosol sprays such as spray drying and the use of inhalers for drug delivery in conditions such as asthma or hay fever. In this presentation we discuss the use of high speed (~5000 frames per second) video microscopy to track the dynamics of particles as they approach and interact with a trapped aqueous droplet and develop this analysis further by considering elastic light scattering from droplets as they undergo coalescence. We find that we are able to characterize the re-equilibration time of droplets of the same phase after they interact and that the trajectories taken by airborne particles influenced by an optical trap are often quite complex. We also examine the role of parameters such as the salt concentration of the aqueous solutions used and the influence of laser wavelength.

Loading Aerosol Optical Traps using Surface Acoustic Wave Devices

We make use of surface acoustic wave nebulization to introduce airborne particles into optical traps in a robust and repeatable manner. We demonstrate the facile loading of aerosols such as organic liquids and solid particles.