Optical trapping and manipulation of neutral dielectric particles and atoms

Arthur Ashkin, John E. Bjorkholm, Steven Chu

Arthur Ashkin

Oriol Romero‐Isart, Anika C. Panzer, J. I. Cirac

The field of optical trapping and manipulation of small neutral particles using the radiation pressure force of lasers was originated in 1970 by the seminal experiment of Ashkin. Over the course of the next 40 years, the techniques of optical trapping and manipulation have stimulated revolutionary developments: atom interferometry, quantum simulations of condensed matter systems with ultracold gases, the implementation of quantum gates for quantum computation purposes.

Harold J. Metcalf, P. van der Straten

Arthur Ashkin

The basic scattering and gradient forces of laser radiation pressure on atoms, dielectric particles, and biological particles are introduced, and experimental demonstrations of these forces are reviewed. As uses for radiation pressure forces, we consider the slowing, cooling, and trapping of neutral atoms at low temperatures; and the trapping and manipulation of dielectric and living biological particles in the Mie and Rayleigh size regimes.

Arthur Ashkin

Radiation pressure forces have been proposed for making stable optical traps for neutral atoms and other dielectric particles. Recently introduced optodynamic or alternating beam traps based on the scattering force are compared with cw traps based on the gradient force. Trapping experiments on micron-sized dielectric particles are described which demonstrate the basic principles of alternating beam light trapping. The relationship of these traps to the optical Earnshaw theorem is considered. The implications for trapping of recently demonstrated sources of slow atoms are also discussed.