Theodor Asavei

Optical angular momentum transfer to microrotors fabricated by two-photon photopolymerization

We design, fabricate and test optically driven microrotors a few microns in size. The rotors are trapped and rotated in optical tweezers using an LG02 Laguerre–Gaussian laser beam. We verify that we can accurately measure the total optical torque by measuring the spin angular momentum transfer for three different polarizations, by comparing the optical torque with the optical torque calculated using computational electrodynamics and the viscous drag torque determined from the rotation rate and computational fluid dynamics. The torque agrees with that expected from the design principles and electromagnetic modelling of the torque within the optical trap.

Fabrication of microstructures for optically driven micromachines using two-photon photopolymerization of UV curing resins

Two-photon photopolymerization of UV curing resins is an attractive method for the fabrication of microscopic transparent objects with size in the tens of micrometers range. We have been using this method to produce three-dimensional (3D) structures for optical micromanipulation, in an optical system based on a femtosecond laser. By carefully adjusting the laser power and the exposure time we were able to create micro-objects with well-defined 3D features and with resolution below the diffraction limit of light. We discuss the performance and capabilities of a microfabrication system, with some examples of its products.

Optically trapped and driven paddle-wheel

We demonstrate the control and rotation of an optically trapped object, an optical paddle-wheel, with the rotation direction normal to the beam axis. This is in contrast to the usual situation where the rotation is about the beam axis. The paddle-wheel can be optically driven and moved to any position in the field of view of the microscope, which can be of interest for various biological applications where controlled application of a fluid flow is needed in a particular location and in a specific direction. This is of particular interest in signal transduction studies in cells, especially when a cell is flat and spread out on a surface.

Measurement of viscosity of lyotropic liquid crystals by means of rotating laser-trapped microparticles

We describe a simple microrheology method to measure the viscosity coefficients of lyotropic liquid crystals. This approach is based on the use of a rotating laser-trapped optically anisotropic microsphere. In aligned liquid crystals that have negligible effect on trapping beams polarization, the optical torque is transferred from circularly polarized laser trapping beam to the optically anisotropic microparticle and creates the shear flow in the liquid crystalline fluid. The balance of optical and viscous torques yields the local effective viscosity coefficients of the studied lyotropic systems in cholesteric and lamellar phases. This simple yet powerful method is capable of probing viscosity of complex anisotropic fluids for small amounts of sample and even in the presence of defects that obstruct the use of conventional rheology techniques.

Optical Vortex Trapping and the Dynamics of Particle Rotation

New possibilities have recently emerged for producing optical beams with complex and intricate structures, and for the non-contact optical manipulation of matter. This book fully describes the electromagnetic theory, optical properties, methods and applications associated with this new technology. Detailed discussions are given of unique beam characteristics, such as optical vortices and other wavefront structures, the associated phase properties and photonic aspects, along with applications ranging from cold atom manipulation to optically driven micromachines. Features include: * Comprehensive and authoritative treatments of the latest research in this area of nanophotonics, written by the leading researchers * Accounts of numerous microfluidics, nanofabrication, quantum informatics and optical manipulation applications * Coverage that fully spans the subject area, from fundamental theory and simulations to experimental methods and results Graduate students and established researchers in academia, national laboratories and industry will find this book an invaluable guide to the latest technologies in this rapidly developing field.

Driving corrugated donut rotors with Laguerre-Gauss beams

Tightly-focused laser beams that carry angular momentum have been used to trap and rotate microrotors. In particular, a Laguerre-Gauss mode laser beam can be used to transfer its orbital angular momentum to drive microrotors. We increase the torque efficiency by a factor of about 2 by designing the rotor such that its geometry is compatible with the driving beam, when driving the rotation with the optimum beam, rather than beams of higher or lower orbital angular momentum. Based on Floquets theorem, the order of discrete rotational symmetry of the rotor can be made to couple with the azimuthal mode of the Laguerre-Gauss beam. We design corrugated donut rotors, that have a flat disc-like profile, with the help of the discrete dipole approximation and the T-matrix methods in parallel with experimental demonstrations of stable trapping and torque measurement. We produce and test such a rotor using two-photon photopolymerization. With a rotor that has 8-fold discrete rotational symmetry, an outer radius of 1.85 μm and a hollow core radius of 0.5 μm, we were able to transfer approximately 0.3 h̄ per photon of the orbital angular momentum from an LG04 beam.

Optical paddle-wheel

As an optically trapped micro-object spins in a fluid, there is a consequent flow in the fluid.. Since a free-floating optically-driven microrotor can be moved to a desired position, it can allow the controlled application of a directed flow in a particular location. Here we demonstrate the control and rotation of such a device, an optical paddle-wheel, using a multiple-beam trap. In contrast to the usual situation where rotation is around the beam axis, here we demonstrate rotation normal to this axis.

Use of shape induced birefringence for rotation in optical tweezers

Since a light beam can carry angular momentum (AM) it is possible to use optical tweezers to exert torques to twist or rotate microscopic objects. The alignment torque exerted on an elongated particle in a polarized light field represents a possible torque mechanism. In this situation, although some exchange of orbital angular momentum occurs, scattering calculations show that spin dominates, and polarization measurements allow the torque to be measured with good accuracy. This phenomenon can be explained by considering shape birefringence with an induced polarizability tensor. Another example of a shape birefringent object is a microsphere with a cylindrical cavity. Its design is based on the fact that due to its symmetry a sphere does not rotate in an optical trap, but one could break the symmetry by designing an object with a spherical outer shape with a non spherical cavity inside. The production of such a structure can be achieved using a two photon photo-polymerization technique. We show that using this technique, hollow spheres with varying sizes of the cavity can be successfully constructed. We have been able to demonstrate rotation of these spheres with cylindrical cavities when they are trapped in a laser beam carrying spin angular momentum. The torque efficiency achievable in this system can be quantified as a function of a cylinder diameter. Because they are biocompatible and easily functionalized, these structures could be very useful in work involving manipulation, control and probing of individual biological molecules and molecular motors.

Engineering optically driven micromachines

Optical forces and torques acting on microscopic objects trapped in focussed laser beams promise flexible methods of driving micromachines through a microscope cover slip or even a cell wall. We are endeavouring to engineer special purpose micro-objects for a range of tasks. Colloidal self assembly of calcium carbonate provides birefringent spheres which can exert considerable torque, while two photon polymerisation allows us to fabricate objects of arbitrary shape that can be designed to exchange both spin and orbital angular momentum. Numerical calculations of forces and torques can allow an optimal design, and optical measurements provide us with certain knowledge of the forces and torques which are actually exerted.

The difficulty of measuring orbital angular momentum

Light can carry angular momentum as well as energy and momentum; the transfer of this angular momentum to an object results in an optical torque. The development of a rotational analogue to the force measurement capability of optical tweezers is hampered by the difficulty of optical measurement of orbital angular momentum. We present an experiment with encouraging results, but emphasise the difficulty of the task.