Patent ID: 6639208
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: F04B,G02B,G03H,H05H

Abstract:
A method of transferring a particle between manifolds of optical traps, comprising the steps of:providing a beam of laser light; dividing the beam of laser light into a plurality of additional beams of laser light; focusing the additional beams of laser light to establish a plurality of optical traps; providing first, second, and third patterns including a plurality of sequentially spaced manifolds, each manifold comprising at least one optical trap from the beams of laser light with the first, second, and third patterns arranged such that the manifolds comprising each pattern are separated by a manifold of each of the other patterns; and sequentially illuminating and extinguishing each of the patterns using the beams of laser light at intervals close enough after the extinguishing of the previous pattern to capture and transfer the particle from one manifold to the a adjacent manifold, wherein the capture and transfer of the particle causes the particle to travel from the one manifold on the one pattern to the next adjacent manifold on the same pattern.