Abstract
The stable levitation of small transparent glass spheres by the forces of radiation pressure has been demonstrated experimentally in air and vacuum down to pressures ∼1 Torr. A single vertically directed focused TEM00-mode cw laser beam of ∼250 mW is sufficient to support stably a ∼20-μ glass sphere. The restoring forces acting on a particle trapped in an optical potential well were probed optically by a second laser beam. At low pressures, effects arising from residual radiometric forces were seen. Possible applications are mentioned.
Keywords
LevitationRadiation pressureOpticsLaserBeam (structure)RadiationMaterials scienceOptical forceSPHERESTorrOptoelectronicsOptical tweezersPhysics
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1971
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 283-285
- Citations
- 788
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
A. Ashkin,
J. M. Dziedzic
(1971).
Optical Levitation by Radiation Pressure.
Applied Physics Letters
, 19
(8)
, 283-285.
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1653919
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1063/1.1653919