Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Oscillation and Reaction Board Techniques for Estimating Inertial Properties of a Below-knee Prosthesis
Published on: May 8, 2014
Experimental Verification of a Bigrating Beam Rider
Ying-Ju Lucy Chu1, Nelson V Tabiryan2, Grover A Swartzlander1
1Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
Abstract:
An optical beam rider making use of a light sail comprising two opposing diffraction gratings is experimentally demonstrated for the first time. We verify that the illuminated space-variant grating structure provides an optical restoring force, exhibiting stable oscillations when the bigrating is displaced from equilibrium. We further demonstrate parametric cooling by illuminating the sail with synchronized light pulses. This experiment enhances the technical feasibility of a laser-driven light sail based on diffractive radiation pressure.
Related Concept Videos
Beams with Symmetric Loadings
The M/EI...
Beams with Unsymmetric Loadings
The first moment-area theorem determines the slope at any point on the beam. This theorem indicates that the change in slope between two points on a beam...
Deflection of a Beam
Singularity functions, described in an earlier lesson, are powerful mathematical tools that represent discontinuities within a function commonly encountered in structural loading...
Impact Loading on a Cantilever Beam
When an object is dropped onto the free end of a cantilever, its potential energy due to gravity is...
Internal Loadings in Structural Members: Problem Solving
To illustrate this, let's consider a beam OC of 5 kN, inclined at an angle of 53.13° with the horizontal and supported at both ends. Determine the internal...
Distributed Loads: Problem Solving

