A simple technique for dynamic optical tweezers using mirror on a vibrating membrane

Abstract

We report a simple and economical technique to create a wide variety of laser pattern for optical tweezing. The main feature of this technique is a reflective gold mirror that is mounted on a stretched latex membrane which can be vibrated with sound wave at a frequency within 100-600Hz. Due to the vibrating gold mirror, laser beam that is reflected off the mirror exhibits a wide variety of controlled patterns. With the reflected laser pattern directed into an optical microscope for optical tweezing, we were able to form different dynamic configurations of structures made of colloidal microspheres. Different formations of colloidal microspheres that correspond to the reflected laser patterns created by the sound-vibrated mirror have been observed.