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Controlling the sign of optical forces using metaoptics
Adeel Afridi1,2, Bruno Melo1,2, Nadine Meyer3,4
1Nanophotonic Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
Nature Communications
|January 9, 2026
Summary
Researchers demonstrate novel meta-optics for precise optical manipulation, enabling both attractive and repulsive forces on nanoscale mechanical systems. This breakthrough offers new possibilities for fundamental research and engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Optical trapping typically relies on light intensity to attract objects.
- Existing methods are limited in controlling the direction of optical forces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate deterministic control over optical forces using meta-optics.
- To engineer attractive and repulsive forces on metasurfaces.
Main Methods:
- Designing and fabricating metasurfaces with tailored meta-atoms.
- Engineering coherent superposition of multipolar modes.
- Utilizing phase-controlled optical standing waves.
Main Results:
- Achieved deterministic control over the sign of optical forces.
- Experimentally realized both attractive and repulsive forces on distinct metasurface designs.
- Results showed excellent agreement with 3D numerical simulations.
Conclusions:
- Meta-optics enables a departure from conventional optical trapping behavior.
- Established a versatile platform for optical control of nanoscale mechanical systems.
- Opened new avenues for fundamental research and engineering in optics and nanotechnology.
