Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air

Summary

A protocol for launching and stably trapping selected dielectric microparticles in air is presented.

Abstract

We demonstrate a method to trap a selected dielectric microparticle in air using radiation pressure from a single-beam gradient optical trap. Randomly scattered dielectric microparticles adhered to a glass substrate are momentarily detached using ultrasonic vibrations generated by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT). Then, the optical beam focused on a selected particle lifts it up to the optical trap while the vibrationally excited microparticles fall back to the substrate. A particle may be trapped at the nominal focus of the trapping beam or at a position above the focus (referred to here as the levitation position) where gravity provides the restoring force. After the measurement, the trapped particle can be placed at a desired position on the substrate in a controlled manner.

In this protocol, an experimental procedure for selective optical trap loading in air is outlined. First, the experimental setup is briefly introduced. Second, the design and fabrication of a PZT holder and a sample enclosure are illustrated in detail. The optical trap loading of a selected microparticle is then demonstrated with step-by-step instructions including sample preparation, launching into the trap, and use of electrostatic force to excite particle motion in the trap and measure charge. Finally, we present recorded particle trajectories of Brownian and ballistic motions of a trapped microparticle in air. These trajectories can be used to measure stiffness or to verify optical alignment through time domain and frequency domain analysis. Selective trap loading enables optical tweezers to track a particle and its changes over repeated trap loadings in a reversible manner, thereby enabling studies of particle-surface interaction.

Introduction

Ashkin reported the acceleration and trapping of microparticles by radiation pressure in 1970.¹ His novel achievement promoted the development of optical trapping techniques as a primary tool for fundamental studies of physics and biophysics.^2,3,4,5 To date, the application of optical trapping has focused mainly on liquid environments, and been used to study a very wide range of systems, from the behavior of colloids to the mechanical properties of single biomolecules.^6,

Protocol

Caution: Please consult all relevant safety programs before the experiment. All the experimental procedures described in this protocol are performed in accordance with the NIST LASER safety program as well as other applicable regulations. Please be sure to select and wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as laser protection glasses designed for the specific wavelength and power. Handling dry nano/microparticles may require additional respiratory protection.

1. Design and Fabrication of a PZT Holder and a Sample Enclosure

1. Design a PZT holder and a sample enclosure
   NOTE: Particular design val....

Results

The PZT launcher is designed using a CAD software package. Here, we use a simple sandwich structure for the preloading (a PZT clamped with two plates), as shown in Figure 2. The PZT holder and the sample enclosure can be fabricated from a variety of materials and methods. For a quick demonstration, we choose 3D printing with thermoplastic as illustrated in Figure 2d. Based on the fabricated components, optical trap loading is shown in Figure 3

Discussion

The piezoelectric launcher is designed to optimize the dynamic performance of a selected PZT. Proper selection of PZT materials and management of ultrasonic vibrations are the key steps to yield a successful experiment. PZTs have different characteristics depending on the type of transducer (bulk or stacked) and component materials (hard or soft). A bulk type PZT made of a hard piezoelectric material is chosen for the following reasons. First, hard piezoelectric materials have lower dielectric losses and higher mechanica.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
ScotchBlue Painter's Tape Original	3M	3M2090
Scotch 810 Magic Tape	3M	3M810
Function/Arbitrary Waveform generator	Agilent	HP33250A
Power supply/Digital voltage supplier	Agilent	E3634A
Ring-type piezoelectric transducer	American Piezo Company	item91
Electro-optic modulator	Con-Optics	350−80-LA
Amplifier for Electro-optic modulator	Con-Optics	302RM
Mitutoyo NIR infinity Corrected Objective	Edmund optics	46-404	Manufactured by Mitutoyo and Distributed by Edmund optics
LOCTITE SUPER GLUE LONGNECK BOTTLE	Loctite	230992
3D printer	MakerBot	Replicator 2
Polylactic acid (PLA) filament	MakerBot	True Red PLA Small Spool
Data Acquisition system	National Instruments	780114-01
Quadrant-cell photodetector	Newport	2031
Translational stage	Newport	562-XYZ
Inverted optical microscope	Nikon Instruments	EclipsTE2000
Fluorescence filter (green)	Nikon Instruments	G-2B
Flea3/CCD camera	Point Grey	FL3-U3-13S2M-CS	Trapping laser
Diode pumped neodymium yttrium vanadate(Nd:YVO4)	Spectra Physics	J20I-8S-12K/ BL-106C
Indium tin oxide (ITO) Coated coverslips	SPI supplies	06463B-AB	Polystyrene microparticles
Fast Drying Silver Paint	Tedpella	16040-30
Dri-Cal size standards	Thermo Scientific	DC-20
Optical Fiber	Thorlabs	P1−1064PM-FC-5	bottom plate
Aluminium plate	Thorlabs	CP4S
High voltage power amplifier	TREK	PZD700A M/S