We calculate trapping forces, trap stiffness and interference effects for spherical particles in optical tweezers using electromagnetic theory. We show the dependence of these on relative refractive index and particle size. We investigate resonance effects, especially in high refractive index particles where interference effects are expected to be strongest. We also show how these simulations can be used to assist in the optimal design of traps.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

1. Y. Harada and T. Asakura, "Radiation forces on a dielectric sphere in the Rayleigh scattering regime," Opt. Commun. 124, 529-541 (1996). [CrossRef]
2. A. Ashkin, "Forces of a single-beam gradient laser trap on a dielectric sphere in the ray optics regime," Biophys. J. 61, 569-582 (1992). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. L. Lorenz, "Lysbevægelsen i og uden for en af plane Lysbølger belyst Kugle," Videnskabernes Selskabs Skrifter 6, 2-62 (1890).
4. G. Mie, "Beitrage zur Optik truber Medien, speziell kolloidaler Metallosungen," Annalen der Physik 25, 377-445 (1908).
5. T. A. Nieminen, V. L. Y. Loke, A. B. Stilgoe, G. Knoner, A. M. Branczyk, N. R. Heckenberg and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, "Optical tweezers computational toolbox," J. Opt. A 9, 5192-S203 (2007). [CrossRef]
6. Ashkin 1986
7. K. Svoboda and S. M. Block, "Biological applications of optical forces," Annu. Rev. Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure 23, 248-285 (1994).
8. P. Ch???ylek and J. Zhan, "Interference structure of the Mie extinction cross section," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 6, 1846-1851 (1989). [CrossRef]

Asakura, T.
Ashkin, A.
Block, S. M.
Branczyk, A. M.
Ch???ylek, P.
Harada, Y.
Heckenberg, N. R.
Kn¨oner, G.
Loke, V. L. Y.
Lorenz, L.
Mie, G.
Nieminen, T. A.
Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H.
Stilgoe, A. B.
Svoboda, K.
Zhan, J.

Annalen der Physik

• G. Mie, "Beitrage zur Optik truber Medien, speziell kolloidaler Metallosungen," Annalen der Physik 25, 377-445 (1908).

Annu. Rev. Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure

• K. Svoboda and S. M. Block, "Biological applications of optical forces," Annu. Rev. Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure 23, 248-285 (1994).

Biophys. J.

• A. Ashkin, "Forces of a single-beam gradient laser trap on a dielectric sphere in the ray optics regime," Biophys. J. 61, 569-582 (1992). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Opt. A

• T. A. Nieminen, V. L. Y. Loke, A. B. Stilgoe, G. Knoner, A. M. Branczyk, N. R. Heckenberg and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, "Optical tweezers computational toolbox," J. Opt. A 9, 5192-S203 (2007). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. A

• P. Ch???ylek and J. Zhan, "Interference structure of the Mie extinction cross section," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 6, 1846-1851 (1989). [CrossRef]

Opt. Commun.

• Y. Harada and T. Asakura, "Radiation forces on a dielectric sphere in the Rayleigh scattering regime," Opt. Commun. 124, 529-541 (1996). [CrossRef]

Videnskabernes Selskabs Skrifter

• L. Lorenz, "Lysbevægelsen i og uden for en af plane Lysbølger belyst Kugle," Videnskabernes Selskabs Skrifter 6, 2-62 (1890).

Other

• Ashkin 1986

2007, Nieminen, J. Opt. A
1996, Harada, Opt. Commun.
1994, Svoboda, Annu. Rev. Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure
1992, Ashkin, Biophys. J.
1989, Ch???ylek, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A
1908, Mie, Annalen der Physik
1890, Lorenz, Videnskabernes Selskabs Skrifter

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