Orientation of biological cells using plane-polarized gaussian beam optical tweezers

Abstract

Optical tweezers are widely used for the manipulation of cells and their internal structures. However, the degree of manipulation possible is limited by poor control over the orientation of the trapped cells. We show that it is possible to controllably align or rotate disc-shaped cells—chloroplasts of Spinacia oleracea—in a plane-polarized Gaussian beam trap, using optical torques resulting predominantly from circular polarization induced in the transmitted beam by the non-spherical shape of the cells.     

Dynamics of field dislocations and disclinations in a few-mode fiber. IV. Formation of an optical vortex

The physical mechanisms responsible for the formation of an optical vortex in the field of a few-mode fiber have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. In an optical fiber with a parabolic refractive index profile an optical vortex is formed as a result of interaction between circularly polarized rotating pure edge dislocations of circularly polarized even and odd CP₁₁ modes. In a stepped-index fiber the formation of an optical vortex is also related to the simultaneous propagation of even and odd modes. The fields of these modes alter their structure over the fiber length and are not manifested by rotating edge dislocations. It has been found experimentally that a stable vortex does not alter its degree of polarization of the field at fiber lengths greater than 10 m. An unstable vortex, for which the product of the spin and the topological charge is always less than zero, periodically decays and recovers at a beat length of 0.65 m. It is noted that a stable optical vortex cannot be formed by orthogonally polarized LP₁₁ modes. This is because an optical vortex transfers additional angular momentum like the CP₁₁ modes whereas the LP₁₁ modes do not transfer additional angular momentum of the field. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 70–75 (March 12, 1997)     

An analysis of the angular momentum of a light field in terms of angular harmonics

Abstract

This paper proposes an optical interpretation for the Lie algebra's symmetry operators of the paraxial wave equation. In particular, the angular momentum operator is used to derive a relation for the expression of the angular momentum of an arbitrary light field in terms of angular harmonics. Furthermore, experimental results are presented demonstrating a filter that extracts angular harmonics from different Gauss-Laguerre modes.     

A scheme for the simultaneous measurement of atomic position and momentum

Abstract

We propose an optical scheme for the simultaneous measurement of the position and momentum of a single atom. The scheme involves the coupling of the atom of two light fields with different spatial and polarization characteristics. The proposed technique is closely related to the Arthurs-Kelly measurement scheme; the principal difference is that in the present case the values of the position and momentum are inferred from phase shifts in electromagnetic fields rather than from shifts in the position of a pointer.     

Rotating correlations in partially coherent fields

Abstract

Partially coherent optical fields whose cross-spectral density functions rotate on propagation are examined. The general theory for rotating partially coherent fields in the space-frequency domain is derived for both scalar and electromagnetic approaches. Differences between the results obtained with full and partial coherence is discussed. A numerical example is given for rotating intensity distributions.     

Imaging Performance of Confocal Fluorescence Microscopes with Finite-sized Source

Abstract

The role of the illumination system of the confocal microscope, and in particular the first pinhole, is discussed. The effects of a finite sized source on the imaging performance, including the three-dimensional optical transfer function, are investigated. Two forms of source are considered, either a coherent Gaussian beam of finite size or an incoherent disc of finite size. For a confocal microscope using optical fibres as source and detector, the optimum geometry is derived for maximizing signal strength.     

Quantization of coupled modes propagation in integrated optical waveguides

Abstract

A quantum mechanical analysis of the propagation of coupled modes in integrated optical waveguides is given. The modal orthonormalization property on a cross-section of an optical waveguide, the vector structure of the guided optical modes and the reversal-time symmetry are taken into account to derive the quantum momentum operator and Heisenberg's equations giving a quantum-consistent formulation of the coupled mode propagation as a function of forward and backward creation and annihilation operators.     

Rotation of microparticles with Bessel beams generated by diffractive elements

Abstract

We show that imaging a non-diverging Bessel beam by a spherical lens leads to the generation of a diverging Bessel beam. Expressions for the projections of the Umov-Poynting vector for a two-dimensional TE-polarized Bessel beam and a three-dimensional paraxial linearly polarized Bessel beam are derived. A fifth-order Bessel beam is produced using a single optical element-a 16-level phase-only diffractive helical axicon fabricated using electron beam lithography. This beam was successfully used to trap and rotate 5-10 μm diameter yeast particles and polystyrene beads of diameter 5 μm.     

Measurement of the Intensity of the Defocused Image of an Incoherently Illuminated Disc

Abstract

In this paper, a new formula is obtained for the image of an incoherently illuminated disc object (disc spread function, DSF) by using an optical system with a circular aperture. Numerical calculations are presented using the Gauss quadrature method, and curves are shown for systems having an optimally balanced fifth-order spherical aberration as well as for aberration-free system having defocusing.     

Light-induced optical activity in optically ordered amorphous side-chain azobenzene containing polymer

Abstract

We report the appearance of circular birefringence (optical activity) in amorphous side-chain azobenzene polymer films on illumination with circularly polarized light. The effect is observed only if an optical axis is previously created in the film with the help of linearly polarized light. The photoinduced optical activity is believed to be due to changes in the polymer structure initiated by a circular momentum transfer from the circularly polarized light to the azobenzene chromophores.     

Three-dimensional Transfer Function Analysis of a Confocal Fluorescence Microscope With a Finite-sized Source and Detector

Abstract

The influence of a finite source and detector on the three-dimensional imaging of an incident light fluorescent confocal scanning optical microscope is investigated on the basis of its three-dimensional optical-transfer function. It is shown that the optical resolution in such set-ups remains the same as with punctiform pinholes if the source and the detecting pinhole radii are both smaller than the size of the Airy disc.     

Angular momentum of the fields of a few-mode waveguide: Conversion of the angular momentum

An analysis is made of the transformation of the angular momentum density in the field of an unstable IV vortex of a few-mode optical fiber. It is shown that the effect of mode dispersion of IV vortices is observed as the conversion of the polarization and orbital components of the electrodynamic angular momentum. The angular momentum defect may be recorded experimentally as a mechanical twist of the optical few-mode fiber. Formally the dispersion process resembles the conversion of the signs of the orbital and polarization components of the angular momentum density. A complex pseudopotential, whose real and imaginary parts characterize the field lines and lines of equal pseudopotential, is introduced to describe the energy flux density of the fiber vortex. The conversion of field states with equivalent partial ê ⁺ F ₁(R)exp{−iφ} and ê2⁻ F ₁(R)exp{+iφ} vortices was investigated experimentally. Pis#x2019;ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 58–65 (November 26, 1997)     

A mode expansion technique for rigorously calculating the scattering from 3D subwavelength structures in optical recording

Abstract

We apply a mode expansion technique to the three-dimensional vectorial diffraction problem of an electromagnetic field that is incident on a perfectly conducting, metallic disc containing a pattern of rectangular pits. The mode expansion technique reduces the three-dimensional diffraction problem to a two-dimensional numerical problem. Furthermore, by choosing a particular numerical discretization, the a priori unknown amplitudes of the propagating and evanescent scattered plane waves in the half space above the metallic plate can be eliminated from the system of equations. The relatively small remaining system of equations for the amplitudes of the propagating and evanescent modes inside the pits, can be solved very rapidly. Some first results are presented. Furthermore, the application of the scanning of an optical beam by a pit structure on a metallic optical disc is discussed.     

A Simple Diffraction Calculation of Magneto-optical Disc Systems

Abstract

A simple diffraction calculation method for magneto-optical disc systems is described. It is based on the extended scalar theory introduced in this paper. Some calculated results are shown for optical systems with different conditions. This method has a role, especially in the system design.     

Optical Particle Trapping with Higher-order Doughnut Beams Produced Using High Efficiency Computer Generated Holograms

Abstract

Laser beams containing higher-order phase singularities can be produced with high efficiency computer generated holograms made with very simple equipment. Using such holograms in an optical tweezers experiment we have successfully trapped reflective and absorptive particles in the dark central spot of a focused charge 3 singularity beam. Angular momentum absorbed from the beam can set particles into rotation.     

Angular momentum of the fields of a few-mode fiber. III. Optical Magnus effect, Berry phase, and topological birefringence

It is shown that, on the one hand, the evolution of the angular rotation of the lines of nodes of the CP₁₁ mode is a manifestation of the optical Magnus effect in a few-mode fiber with a parabolic refractive index profile, and, on the other hand, the additional phase γ _b =±δβ ₂₁ z in CV and IV vortices is the Berry topological phase, which arises as a result of the cyclic change in the orientations of the orthogonal axes of dislocations. The splitting of the propagation velocities of orthogonal circularly polarized CV⁺ and IV⁻ modes in an LV vortex in a parabolic fiber is a manifestation of the phenomenon of topological birefringence of a few-mode fiber. The azimuth of the linear polarization of a vortex undergoes continuous angular rotation. In an optical fiber with a stepped index profile the CP₁₁ mode forms circularly polarized edge dislocation over lengths which are multiples of half the beat length, and over lengths which are odd multiples of the quarter beat length it forms linearly polarized fields with a purely screw dislocation. This transformation of edge and screw dislocations can be regarded formally as conversion of the polarizational angular momentum into orbital angular momentum. The conversion of angular momentum is a reflection of the dynamical unity of the optical Magnus effect and the Berry topological phase in the fields of a few-mode fiber. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 59–67 (December 12, 1997)     

Optical tweezers and optical spanners with Laguerre–Gaussian modes

Abstract

We numerically model the axial trapping forces within optical tweezers arising from Laguerre–Gaussian laser modes. For an 8 μm diameter sphere suspended in water, the higher-order modes produce an axial trapping force several times larger than that of the fundamental. Partial absorption results in a transfer of the orbital angular momentum from the Laguerre–Gaussian mode to the trapped particle. This results in the rotation of the particle by what may be called an optical spanner (wrench). For an absorption coefficient of α = 5700 m^?1 and a laser power of 10 mW, we find that an 8 μm diameter sphere would acquire an angular acceleration of 10 × 10⁴ rad s^?2 and a limiting angular velocity of 0.2 rad s^?1.     

Effects of test specimen geometry on creep behaviour of 12Cr steel in miniaturised disc bend tests

Abstract

The results of miniaturised disc bend creep tests carried out on flat and on preformed sombrero shaped disc test specimens made of high alloy 12Cr steel have shown that the time to rupture is practically the same for both kinds of test specimen. It was therefore proven that the initial, large and rapid hot plastic deformation of flat disc test specimens does not effect the regularity of the creep process in such tests. Miniaturised disc bend creep tests carried out on flat disc test specimens of slightly different thickness confirmed the general validity of the modified Mukherjee - Bird - Dorn power law relation for time to rupture with thickness of the disc as the equation parameter. However, the thickness of the disc should be smaller or at most equal to the actual die clearance of the disc bend creep testing equipment.     

Evanescent Wave Mixing on Nonlinear Surfaces

Abstract

The problem of using evanescent fields in nonlinear optics is discussed by employing results on quantization of evanescent waves. It is shown that the peculiar properties of the momentum of evanescent modes can be used to realize non-critical optical frequency mixing. In the first illustration, the case of surface second-harmonic generation is discussed. It is then shown that, in the case of difference-frequency generation, it is possible to generate a ‘completely evanescent mode’ which is ‘trapped’ by the surface, which becomes a two-dimensional waveguide.     

Angular distribution of an average solid angle subtended by a circular disc from multiple points uniformly distributed on a planar circular surface coaxial to the disc

Abstract

Average solid angles subtended by an external contour of a given body from several points are required for the calculation of radiation fluxes or particle beams that are incident on the body from multiple-point isotropic emitters of analogous kinds. To consider the refraction effects for fluxes of light propagating through various optical media, knowledge of the angular distributions of such average solid angles is necessary. In this paper the formula describing angular dependence of the average solid angle subtended by a circular disc from uniformly distributed points within the circular surface of a parallel and coaxial disc was derived analytically and used for the calculation of some representative results. The solution has been made in the cylindrical coordinate system. The final and some intermediate formulas were expressed as functions of the polar angle, of the radii of both discs and of the distance between their planes. These formulae were represented by superpositions of simple elementary functions, single integrals of, these superpositions and by incomplete and complete Legendre—Jacobi elliptic integrals of all three kinds. Mathematica 2.2.3 software was used to illustrate graphically the relationships between some computed data. These data indicate that the derived formula is directly applicable in any computer programs calculating the Legrendre—Jacobi elliptic integrals to estimate the fluxes of optical radiation and particle beams propagated within a non-absorbing homogeneous medium. The expressions obtained may also be used to calculate the fluxes of optical radiation propagated through various homogeneous media.