Laser trapping and manipulation under focused evanescent wave illumination

Abstract

Laser trapping is based on the radiation pressure on a small particle in the focal region of a high numerical-aperture objective. Currently, the focal spot of a trapping beam is elongated along the longitudinal direction and thus the axial size of the trapping volume is approximately three times larger than that in the transverse direction. We report on a laser trapping technique under focused evanescent wave illumination. Therefore laser trapping of micro/nano-objects can be achieved in the near-field region with an axial trapping size of approximately 60 nm, which is reduced by approximately one order of magnitude. Hence, this technique is of significant importance in nanometry including single molecule detection and manipulation.