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Updated: May 27, 2025

Uncovering Hidden Dynamics of Natural Photonic Structures Using Holographic Imaging
Published on: March 31, 2022
Thermophoretic effect in natural photonics: holographic study
Marina Simovic Pavlovic1,2, Dusan Grujic1, Maja Pagnacco3
1Nanophotonics Lab, Photonics Center, Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract:
Natural photonic structures allow us to reveal and mold the thermophoretic effect at the nanoscale within condensed matter systems. In this paper, for the first time, holography has been exploited to disclose conditions that determine the strength and dynamics of the thermophoretic effect. We experimentally revealed the link between geometry and nano-corrugation of biological structures that shapes the power of thermophoresis. The presented study opens enormous possibilities for harnessing the thermophoretic effect in various bioinspired sensing applications, uniquely merging the fields of photonics and mechanics.

