Abstract

Effects of light pressure known from trapping of neutral atoms can be exploited also for the trapping of particles up to a few hundred micrometers in diameter such as biological cells. For that purpose a cw NdYAG laser is coupled into a microscope and used as ultrafine optical trap (or synonymously: optical tweezers). If, in addition, a pulsed ultraviolet laser such as a nitrogen laser or an excimer pumped dye laser is coupled into the microscope, micromanipulation of biologial cells and subcellular structures is possible without any mechanical contact. Such a combination of optical trap and laser microbeam has been dubbed “microbeam trap”.

© 1992 IQEC