Patent ID: 7351953
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: G03H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for trapping particles by forming optical traps, comprising: a first phase patterning optical element which receives a laser beam and one of patterns a phase profile of said laser beam, and imparts a selected wavefront to said laser beam; a second phase patterning optical element disposed downstream from said first phase patterning optical element, which receives said laser beam and one of patterns a phase profile of said laser beam, and imparts a selected wavefront to said laser beam; wherein at least two beamlets are formed from said laser beam; and a focusing lens having a front and a back aperture, said focusing lens being disposed downstream from said second phase patterning optical element; wherein the second phase patterning optical element in cooperation with said focusing lens, can separately converge said beamlets and establish gradient conditions to form optical traps capable of manipulating the particles.