Theory of Optical Trapping by an Optical Vortex Beam

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.104.103601
• Publication Date: 2010-03-10T21:55:36Z
• Authors: Jack Ng; Zhifang Lin; C. T. Chan
• Keywords: Mesoscopic physics; Optical vortex; Optical force; Aperiodic graph; Trap (plumbing)

We propose a rigorous theory for the optical trapping by vortices, which is emerging as an important tool to trap mesoscopic particles. The common perception that solely due gradient force, and may be characterized three real force constants. However, we show vortex can exhibit complex constants, implying must stabilized ambient damping. At different damping levels, particle shows remarkably dynamics, such stable trapping, periodic aperiodic orbital motions.