Abstract

We report a breakthrough in designing and fabricating optical trapping systems which opens up a new class of systems for optical micromanipulation. A combination of traditional lens design processes, simulation of optical forces and ultra-precision machining of optical free-form surfaces enables highly specialized optics for optical trapping applications. An optical tweezing optics, made of a single piece of PMMA, with a working distance of 650 µm is presented.

© 2011 Optical Society of America