Structure of Generalized Helical Modes of Light
Abstract
Optical vortices are toroidal optical traps made from focusing helical modes of light that not only localize colloidal particles, but also exert torques on them proportional to the modes' helicity. Observations of the structural dependence of these vortices on their toplogical charge characterizing their helicity has led to the development of new classes of torque- and force-exerting optical traps based on beams of light with topological singularities. The observed dependence and resulting generalization is shown to be a general characteristic of experimentally achievable helical modes. These generalized vortices can produce interesting trapping patterns that need not be radially symmetric. We discuss the framework of this generalization and observations of these novel topological traps, and describe new applications for optical trapping in colloidal systems.
- Publication:
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APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004APS..MARP22005S