Direct and clean loading of nanoparticles into optical traps at millibar pressures

Direct and clean loading of nanoparticles into optical traps at millibar pressures

Photonics 2021, 8(11), 458 Nanoparticles levitated by optical fields under vacuum conditions have applications in quantum science, the study of nanothermodynamics and precision sensing. Existing techniques for loading optical traps require ambient conditions, and often involve dispersion in liquids,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nikkhou, Maryam, Hu, Yanhui, Sabin, James A, Millen, James
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 21-09-2021
Subjects:
Physics - Optics
Physics - Quantum Physics
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Photonics 2021, 8(11), 458 Nanoparticles levitated by optical fields under vacuum conditions have applications in quantum science, the study of nanothermodynamics and precision sensing. Existing techniques for loading optical traps require ambient conditions, and often involve dispersion in liquids, which can contaminate delicate optics and lead to enhanced optical absorption and heating. Here we present a clean, dry and generic mechanism for directly loading optical traps at pressures down to 1\,mbar, exploiting Laser Induced Acoustic Desorption. Our method allows rapid and efficient trapping, and is also suitable for site-selective loading of nanofabricated particles grown on a silicon substrate.
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2109.10316