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Springer series in chemical physics

History of Optical Trapping and Manipulation of Small Neutral Particles, Atoms, and Molecules

Arthur Ashkin

Published Jan 1, 2001• 427 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1007/978-3-642-56544-1_1

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The techniques of optical trapping and manipulation of neutral particles by lasers provide unique means to control the dynamics of small particles. These new experimental methods have played a revolutionary role in areas of the physical and biological sciences. This paper reviews the early developments in the field leading to the demonstration of cooling and trapping of neutral atoms in atomic physics and to the first use of optical tweezers traps in biology. Some further major achievements of these rapidly developing methods also are considered.