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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
Published on: August 31, 2021
Non-conservative optical forces
Sergey Sukhov1, Aristide Dogariu1
1CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, United States of America.
Abstract:
Undoubtedly, laser tweezers are the most recognized application of optically induced mechanical action. Their operation is usually described in terms of conservative forces originating from intensity gradients. However, the fundamental optical action on matter is non-conservative. We will review different manifestations of non-conservative optical forces (NCF) and discuss their dependence on the specific spatial properties of optical fields that generate them. New developments relevant to the NCF such as tractor beams and transversal forces are also discussed.
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