[OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 7, No. 5 (2000) 448-450]
Visualization and Analysis of a Micro-Flow Generated by an Optical Rotator
Hiroo UKITA and Mamoru IDAKA
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577 Japan
(Received May 1, 2000: Accepted June 19, 2000)
Micro-flow control is the key technology of the so-called labs-on-a-chip fluidic devices such as micro total analysis systems (μ-TAS). This letter presents a micro-flow generated by a broken glass particle rotation induced by optical pressure. The micro-flow fields are visualized by both tracer and optical methods. The velocity vectors are analyzed for the future evaluation of the micro-mixing.
Key words : optical tweezers, optical rotation, micro-flow, flow visualization, tracer, velocity field, micro-mixer, μ-TAS