Optical Tweezers in Action: Key Facts

[TheJmangeri]

Is that a SEM to view the spheres?

[ElliotScientific]

@TheJmangeri

No, a normal optical microscope with a video camera attached. Our newer models have a high speed camera to also enable particle tracking as an option.

[zealot2711]

how could you manipulate them simultaneously? using multiple traps?

[ElliotScientific]

@zealot2711

The beam is switched at very high speed between each spot giving the effect of simultaneous multiple trapping.

[zealot2711]

@ElliotScientific

Oh, I see, very interesting. Are you using the trap through a microscope? how is it achieved that the laser beam switching between different spots?

[ElliotScientific]

@zealot2711

We use acousto-optical deflection of the laser beam that is injected into the light path.

[b1aflatoxin]

Amazing!!!

Thanks for the demo!!!

[AznBoyIQ80]

What happened at the end?

[ElliotScientific]

They all lived happily everafter...

[BOBAH4iK]

Excellent video!

What is the size of your particles?

[invaderkendall]

I wouldn't mind knowing the size of the microspheres, the pN force of the tweezers and whether the randomness at the end of the video is Brownian motion or another effect... just curious. Great video BTW, Thanks

[BOBAH4iK]

@invaderkendall My estimate is 2 or 1.6 micron particles. Because they use x100 objective.. Please see their other video, where they use 5um particles and scale it down :-)

[ElliotScientific]

@invaderkendall

The microspheres in this video are 1 micron in diameter.

[ElliotScientific]

@ElliotScientific

The microspheres in this video are 1 micron in diameter.

[KDissektor]

Stunning. I can scarcely believe it can manipulate these diminutive structures with such precision.