Generation of microswimmers from passive Brownian particles in a spherically aberrated optical trap

We induce spontaneous motion that is both directed and complex in micron-sized asymmetric Brownian particles in a spherically aberrated optical trap to generate microswimmers. The aberrated optical trap is prepared in a slightly modified optical tweezers configuration where we use a refractive index mismatched cover slip leading to the formation of an annular intensity distribution near the trap focal plane. Asymmetric scattering from a micro-particle trapped in this annular trap gives rise to a net tangential force on the particle causing it to revolve spontaneously in the intensity ring. The rate of revolution can be controlled from sub-Hz to a few Hz by changing the intensity of the trapping light. Theoretical simulations performed using finite-difference time-domain method verify the experimental observations. We also experimentally demonstrate simultaneous spin and revolution of a micro-swimmer which shows that complex motion can be achieved by designing a suitable shape of a micro-swimmer in the optical potential.