Whirl-enhanced continuous wave laser trapping of particles

Tightly focused laser beams can trap micro- and nanoparticles suspended in liquids in their focal spots enabling different functionalities including 3D manipulations and assembling. Here, we report on remarkably strong liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization experiments in para-nitroaniline dissolved in 1,4-dioxane. For optical trapping of para-nitroaniline we used low-power, weakly focused light beam from continuous-wave laser partially absorbed by the solute. The experiments were performed in solution deposited on glass with an upper free-surface and solution contained between two glass plates. The usual gradient force field and scattering force solely are insufficient to properly describe the observed particle gathering effects extending far beyond the optical trap potential. The concept of whirl-enhanced and temperature assisted optical trapping is postulated. The relative simplicity of the used geometry for trapping will broaden the understanding of the light-matter interaction and promises the widespread application of the observed effect in optically controlled crystallization.