[OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 6, No. 1 (1999) 24-27]

Nonmechanical Optical Manipulation of Microparticle Using Spatial Light Modulator

Yoshio HAYASAKI,1 Masahide ITOH,2 Toyohiko YATAGAI2 and Nobuo NISHIDA1

1Department of Optical Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokushima, 2-1, Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima, 770-8506 Japan, 2Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennoudai, Tsukuba, 305-8573 Japan

(Received September 4, 1998; Accepted October 26, 1998)

A spatial light modulator (SLM) is introduced to an optical manipulation system. The real-time reconfigurable feature of the SLM makes it possible to perform an optical manipulation of microparticles without mechanical movements of optical parts. A liquid crystal SLM incorporated in the system forms a Fresnel zone plate (FZP). The beam spot generated by the FZP is imaged on a sample solution by reduction optics. A microparticle in the sample solution is trapped by the beam and manipulated by changing the addressing position of the FZP onto the SLM from a computer. The nonmechanical optical manipulation of microparticles is demonstrated for the first time.

Key words : optical trapping, optical manipulation, optical tweezers, spatial light modulator, Fresnel zone plate

hayasaki@opt.tokushima-u.ac.jp