Modelling optical micromachines.pdfVIP

Preprint of: Vincent L. Y. Loke, Timo A. Nieminen, Agata M. Branczyk,´ Norman R. Heckenberg and Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop “Modelling optical micro-machines” pp. 163–166 in Nikolai Voshchinnikov (ed.) 9th International Conference on Electromagnetic and Light S cattering by Non-Spherical Particles: Theory, Measure- ments, and Applications (St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 2006). Online at: http://www.astro.spbu.ru/ELS9/ 6 Modelling optical micro-machines 0 0 Vincent L. Y. Loke, Timo A. Nieminen, Agata M. Bra´nczyk, 2 Norman R. Heckenberg and Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop l u Centre for Biophotonics and Laser Science, School of Physical Sciences, J The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia 0 3 Abstract ] A strongly focused laser beam can be used to trap, manipulate and exert torque on a microparticle. The s torque is the result of transfer of angular momentum by scattering of the laser beam. The laser could be used to c drive a rotor, impeller, cog wheel or some other microdevice of a few microns in size, perhaps fabricated from a i t birefringent material. We review our methods of computationally simulating the torque and force imparted by p a laser beam. We introduce a method of hybridizing the T-matrix with the Finite Difference Frequency Domain o. (FDFD) method to allow the modelling of materials that are anisotropic and inhomogeneous, and structures s that have complex shapes. The high degree of symmetry of a microrotor, such as discrete or continuous c rotational symmetry, can be exploited to reduce