Vincent Ricardo Daria

Fully dynamic multiple-beam optical tweezers

We demonstrate a technique for obtaining fully dynamic multiple-beam optical tweezers using the generalized phase contrast (GPC) method and a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). The GPC method facilitates the direct transformation of an input phase pattern to an array of high-intensity beams, which can function as efficient multiple optical traps. This straightforward process enables an adjustable number of traps and realtime control of the position, size, shape and intensity of each individual tweezer-beam in arbitrary arrays by encoding the appropriate phase pattern on the SLM. Experimental results show trapping and dynamic manipulation of multiple micro-spheres in a liquid solution.

Four-dimensional optical manipulation of colloidal particles

This work has been funded by the European Science Foundation through the Eurocores-SONS program and partially by an internal grant awarded by Riso National Laboratory.

Real-time three-dimensional optical micromanipulation of multiple particles and living cells

Counterpropagating light fields provide a stationary optical potential well for a Brownian particle. Introducing variability in the relative strengths of the counterpropagating beams allows us to create a more general configuration-the optical elevator. An optical elevator dynamically controls the axial location of the potential minimum where the particle finds a stable equilibrium position. We describe the implementation of multiple real-time reconfigurable optical elevators with the generalized phase contrast method for dynamic manipulation of polystyrene spheres and yeast cells S. cerevisiae in three dimensions.

Interactive light-driven and parallel manipulation of inhomogeneous particles

A light-driven micromanipulation system with real-time userfeedback control is used to simultaneously trap colloidal suspensions enabling a unique interactive sorting capability and arbitrary patterning of microscopic particles. The technique is based on a straightforward phase-tointensity conversion generating multiple beam patterns for manipulation of particles in the observation plane of a microscope. Encoding of phase patterns in a spatial light modulator, which is directly controlled by a computer, allows for dynamic reconfiguration of the trapping patterns, where independent control of the position, size, shape and intensity of each beam is possible. Efficient sorting of microsphere mixtures of distinct sizes and colors using multiple optical traps is demonstrated.

Holographic projection of arbitrary light patterns with a suppressed zero-order beam

We present what is to our knowledge a novel technique for efficient suppression of the zero-order beam inherent in light patterns projected via phase-only computer-generated holograms (CGHs). Encoding a CGH on a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a limited fill factor produces a disturbing zero-order beam at the optical axis. Here, we propose to derive a CGH, which includes holographic information to project a corrective beam that destructively interferes with the zero-order beam. The CGH for projecting arbitrary light patterns plus a corrective beam are derived using the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm where the iterations impose both amplitude and phase constraints for the target field pattern at the Fourier plane. As proof of principle, we analyze the viability of the technique by simulating the performance when applied on a practical SLM with a limited fill factor, fixed number of phase-shifting pixels, and wavefront distortion associated with the surface roughness of the SLM.

Dynamic array of dark optical traps

A dynamic array of dark optical traps is generated for simultaneous trapping and arbitrary manipulation of multiple low-index microstructures. The dynamic intensity patterns forming the dark optical trap arrays are generated using a nearly loss-less phase-to-intensity conversion of a phase-encoded coherent light source. Two-dimensional input phase distributions corresponding to the trapping patterns are encoded using a computer-programmable spatial light modulator, enabling each trap to be shaped and moved arbitrarily within the plane of observation. We demonstrate the generation of multiple dark optical traps for simultaneous manipulation of hollow “air-filled” glass microspheres suspended in an aqueous medium.

Arbitrary multisite two-photon excitation in four dimensions

We demonstrate dynamic and arbitrary multisite two-photon excitation in three dimensions using the holographic projection method. Rapid response (fourth dimension) is achieved through high-speed noniterative calculation of the hologram using a video graphics accelerator board. We verify that the projected asymmetric spot configurations have sufficient spatiotemporal photon density for localized two-photon excitation. This system is a significant advance and can be applied to time-resolved photolysis of caged compounds in biological cells and complex neuronal networks, nonlinear microfabrication and volume holographic optical storage.

Real-time interactive optical micromanipulation of a mixture of high- and low-index particles

We demonstrate real-time interactive optical micromanipulation of a colloidal mixture consisting of particles with both lower (n(L) < n(0)) and higher (n(H)> n(0)) refractive indices than that of the suspending medium (n(0)). Spherical high- and low-index particles are trapped in the transverse plane by an array of confining optical potentials created by trapping beams with top-hat and annular cross-sectional intensity profiles, respectively. The applied method offers extensive reconfigurability in the spatial distribution and individual geometry of the optical traps. We experimentallydemonstrate this unique feature by simultaneously trapping and independently manipulating various sizes of spherical soda lime micro -shells (n(L) >> 1.2) and polystyrene micro-beads (n(H) = 1.57) suspended in water (n(0) = 1.33).

Optical trapping and surgery of living yeast cells using a single laser

We present optical trapping and surgery of living yeast cells using two operational modes of a single laser. We used a focused laser beam operating in continuous-wave mode for noninvasive optical trapping and manipulation of single yeast cell. We verified that such operational mode of the laser does not cause any destructive effect on yeast cell wall. By changing the operation of the laser to femtosecond-pulsed mode, we show that a tightly focused beam dissects the yeast cell walls via nonlinear absorption. Lastly, using the combined technique of optical microsurgery and trapping, we demonstrate intracellular organelle extraction and manipulation from a yeast cell. The technique established here will be useful as an efficient method for both surgery and manipulation of living cells using a single laser beam.

Effect of spurious diffraction orders in arbitrary multifoci patterns produced via phase-only holograms

We analyze the effect of spurious diffraction orders when generating functional multifoci patterns produced by illuminating a phase-only hologram with a single Gaussian beam. Using a practical device for encoding a hologram generates an undesirable zero order and high-diffraction orders at the Fourier plane. This translates to the fact that a significant fraction of the incident light does not necessarily convert to functional multifoci patterns. In most applications, the zero order can be avoided by generating foci patterns shifted off the optical axis, which further increases the amount of light distributed to spurious high-diffraction orders owing to the reduction of light directed to the desired foci pattern. We analyze the amount of light dispersed to spurious orders and show that these unwanted orders can be a major limiting factor for most applications based on arbitrary multifoci patterns.