Controlled fusion of femtoliter-volume aqueous droplets using holographic optical tweezers

This paper describes the use of Laguerre-Gaussian beams for the optical manipulation and fusion of single femtoliter-volume aqueous droplets, a technique developed to facilitate new applications in droplet microfluidics. In addition, this paper describes the possibility of extending this work by using more complex holographic fields generated by computer controlled spatial light modulators (i.e. dynamic holographic optical tweezers) which should lead to the control of larger arrays of droplets. Finally this paper discusses possible applications in the fields of digital microfluidics, with specific reference to the manipulation of cellular material within femtolitre test tubes.