Backward transport of nanoparticles in fluidic flow

We demonstrate a backward transport of polystyrene (PS) particles (713-nm in diameter) in a pressure-driven fluidic flow using an optical fiber with a diameter of 710 nm. When a light of 980-nm wavelength was launched into the fiber in the opposite direction of the flow, the PS particles near the fiber were attracted onto the fiber and transported along the propagation direction of the light. The relationship between the velocity of the transported PS particles and the velocity of the flow at different input optical powers was investigated. Numerical analyses on both the optical field and the fluid field were carried out. The particle-size dependence of backward transport capability has also been investigated.