Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Stretching Short Sequences of DNA with Constant Force Axial Optical Tweezers
08:48

Stretching Short Sequences of DNA with Constant Force Axial Optical Tweezers

Published on: October 13, 2011

Trapping volume control in optical tweezers using cylindrical vector beams.

S E Skelton1, M Sergides, R Saija

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.

Optics Letters
|January 4, 2013
PubMed
Summary

We demonstrate precise control over optical traps for microparticles using cylindrical vector beams (CVBs). Adjusting beam polarization allows tuning of trap strength and geometry, enhancing microparticle manipulation capabilities.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Precancerous niche remodelling dictates nascent tumour persistence.

Nature·2026
Same author

Modelling red blood cell optical trapping by machine learning improved geometrical optics calculations.

Biomedical optics express·2023
Same author

α-catenin switches between a slip and an asymmetric catch bond with F-actin to cooperatively regulate cell junction fluidity.

Nature communications·2022
Same author

Influence of slow light effect on trapping force in optical tweezers.

Optics letters·2022
Same author

Mutant clones in normal epithelium outcompete and eliminate emerging tumours.

Nature·2021
Same author

Optical force decoration of 3D microstructures with plasmonic particles.

Optics letters·2018

Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Optical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Optical trapping utilizes focused laser beams to manipulate microscopic particles.
  • Traditional optical traps often use linearly or circularly polarized light, limiting control over trap geometry.
  • Cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) offer spatially varying polarization, presenting new possibilities for optical manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the optical trapping of spherical microparticles using cylindrical vector beams (CVBs).
  • To quantify the control over optical trap strength and geometry afforded by CVBs.
  • To compare experimental findings with theoretical predictions based on T-matrix scattering theory.

Main Methods:

  • Three-dimensional tracking of Brownian motion of trapped microparticles.

More Related Videos

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
09:56

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

Use of Dual Optical Tweezers and Microfluidics for Single-Molecule Studies
06:53

Use of Dual Optical Tweezers and Microfluidics for Single-Molecule Studies

Published on: November 18, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Stretching Short Sequences of DNA with Constant Force Axial Optical Tweezers
08:48

Stretching Short Sequences of DNA with Constant Force Axial Optical Tweezers

Published on: October 13, 2011

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
09:56

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

Use of Dual Optical Tweezers and Microfluidics for Single-Molecule Studies
06:53

Use of Dual Optical Tweezers and Microfluidics for Single-Molecule Studies

Published on: November 18, 2022

  • Extraction of optical trap spring constants from positional fluctuations.
  • Characterization of trap geometry using the aspect ratio of spring constants.
  • Systematic variation of the polarization angle of the CVBs.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated ability to control optical trap strength and geometry by adjusting CVB polarization.
    • Quantified the relationship between polarization angle and trap spring constants.
    • Experimental results show good agreement with the T-matrix theoretical model.

    Conclusions:

    • CVBs provide an additional degree of freedom for optical trapping control.
    • Polarization adjustment in CVBs enables tunable optical trap characteristics.
    • This work advances the understanding and application of advanced light fields in optical manipulation.