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The beam attracts objects

24.01.2013

A group of physicists led by Pavel Zemanek from the Institute of Scientific Instruments at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Brno has developed an experimental prototype of such a device capable of attracting and moving large enough microparticles. As the researchers note, today there are several theoretical approaches to creating an attracting beam. Some of them are based on already existing developments in the field of optical manipulation of matter, such as "light tongs" or optical traps. Others use a laser beam, "swirled" in a special way, or a combination of several streams of light.

Zemanek and colleagues took the latter approach. According to them, it allows you to capture fairly large particles, whose dimensions can reach 300-400 nm. This favorably distinguishes it from other types of "attractive beams" capable of moving only individual atoms or nanoparticles a few nanometers in size.

The invention of Zemanek and his colleagues consists of two lasers, a special mirror and a computer that controls the polarization and other characteristics of the emitters. In this case, the mirror is not a necessary component, but it helps the tractor beam to lift the captured objects, thereby increasing their maximum possible mass. During operation of the device, laser beams with a specially selected frequency and polarization capture the particle under study. At this moment, their polarization and some other characteristics of the laser beam remain the same, as a result of which the position of the particle is fixed. To move the particle in an arbitrary direction, scientists change the polarization of the beam and the position of one of the lasers.

Zemanek's group tested their invention by attempting to "catch" and move one of several polystyrene balls, ranging in diameter from 100 to 410 nm, floating in water. According to the physicists, their invention worked well - on average, scientists were able to move the ball 25-30 microns from its original position. This result is a record for devices of this kind. According to scientists, the transportation range can be easily increased by increasing the power of the laser beam. The authors of the article continued the experiment by sorting the balls by size.

Zemanek and his colleagues suggest that this device in its current form can already be used as one of the components of microscopes, allowing scientists to catch individual particles of matter or living cells and move them in the right direction. In addition, further development of this technology could become the basis for "cosmic" tractor beams, with which astronauts will capture faulty satellites or asteroid fragments.

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