Photophoretic Trapping: Fundamentals, Advances, and Future Directions

Photophoretic forces, several orders of magnitude stronger than radiation pressure, enable particle trapping at remarkably low optical intensities and have opened pathways to applications in aerosol science, free-space 3D volumetric displays, and even deployment of lightweight payloads in space. In this review, we provide a comprehensive explanation of the underlying physics of photophoretic forces and how they facilitate stable 3D manipulation of absorbing particles. We examine the experimental configurations that enable robust trapping, and we detail the physical parameters that govern the magnitude and behavior of photophoretic forces in these geometries. The rich dynamical phenomena exhibited by photophoretically trapped particles are discussed alongside current and emerging applications and possible future research directions. This review thus attempts to systematically unify the theoretical, experimental, and application-oriented aspects of photophoretic trapping, with the aim of advancing and strengthening research in this rapidly developing field.