Abstract

In recent years there lias been considerable interest in the manipulation of nano- and molecular scale objects using optically induced forces as exemplified by the development of optical tweezers and scanning force microscopy. Optical control of the forces induced on single nano- and molecular scale objects is of considerable interest in molecular biology in order to deduce the forces and strains that develop during reaction and ultimately dictate the fonn of biological molecules [1].

© 2007 IEEE