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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
Published on: August 31, 2021
The effect of Mie resonances on trapping in optical tweezers
Alexander B Stilgoe1, Timo A Nieminen, Gregor Knöener
1Centre for Biophotonics and Laser Science, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Abstract:
We calculate trapping forces, trap stiffness and interference effects for spherical particles in optical tweezers using electromagnetic theory. We show the dependence of these on relative refractive index and particle size. We investigate resonance effects, especially in high refractive index particles where interference effects are expected to be strongest. We also show how these simulations can be used to assist in the optimal design of traps.

