A new scientific manuscript was accepted in OPTICA Optics Letters with contributors from ITMO University, Institute of Nanotechnology of Microelectronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kotel’nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of Russian Academy of Sciences and RTU Institute of Telecommunications – Vjaceslavs Bobrovs.
What is the paper about?
Versatile manipulation of nano- and microobjects underlies the optomechanics and a
variety of its applications in biology, medicine, and lab-on-a-chip platforms. For flexible tailoring
optical forces, as well as for extraordinary optomechanical effects, additional degrees of freedom
should be introduced into the system. Here, we demonstrate that photonic crystals provide a
flexible platform for nanoparticles optical manipulation due to both Bloch surface waves (BSWs)
and the complex character of the reflection coefficient paving a way for complex optomechanical
interactions control. We demonstrate that appearance of enhanced pulling and pushing transversal
optical forces acting on a single bead placed above a one-dimensional photonic crystal due to
directional excitation of Bloch surface wave at the photonic crystal interface. Our theoretical
results, which are supported with numerical simulations, demonstrate angle or wavelength assisted
switching between BSW-induced optical pulling and pushing forces. Easy-to-fabricate for any
desired spectral range photonic crystals are shown to be prospective for precise optical sorting of
nanoparticles, especially for core-shell nanoparticles, which are difficult to sort with conventional
optomechanical methods. Our approach opens opportunities for novel optical manipulation
schemes and platforms and enhanced light-matter interaction in optical trapping setups.
Extended version of the article can be found here.
Also find more information about the manuscript on Optica website.
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