Helicity-dependent three-dimensional optical trapping of chiral microparticles

Georgiy Tkachenko and Etienne Brasselet ()
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Georgiy Tkachenko: Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine, 351 cours de la libération
Etienne Brasselet: Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine, 351 cours de la libération

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The rule of thumb of tailored optical forces consists in the control of linear momentum exchange between light and matter. This may be done by appropriate selection of the interaction geometry, optical modes or environmental characteristics. Here we reveal that the interplay of the helicity of light and the chirality of matter turns the photon spin angular momentum into an efficient tool for selective trapping of chiral particles. This is demonstrated, both experimentally and theoretically, by exploring the three-dimensional optical trapping of chiral liquid crystal microspheres with circularly polarized Gaussian or Laguerre–Gaussian beams. These results suggest the development of novel optomechanical strategies that rely on the photon helicity towards selective trapping and manipulation of chiral objects by chiral light.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5491

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