Trapping Light, Shaping Matter
Holding Light: Exploring the World with Optical Tweezers Imagine using light, not your hands, to manipulate tiny objects – smaller than the width of a human hair! This seemingly fantastical idea is made possible by optical tweezers, a revolutionary technology that harnesses the power of focused laser beams to trap and move microscopic particles. At its core, optical tweezers operate on the principle of light pressure. When light interacts with matter, it exerts a force, known as radiation pressure. By focusing a laser beam to a tiny spot, scientists can create a region of intense light pressure capable of holding even the most delicate objects suspended in mid-air. Think of it like trying to balance a marble on top of...