Optical forces on micrometer-sized cross-type rotator held by optical tweezers

Summary form only. Optical tweezers can be used to rotate micro-objects with artificial non-symmetrical structures. In this paper we present detailed behavior of single beam rotational manipulation of a cross-type rotator. In our numerical model. the rotator (polyimide) is suspended in liquid (ethanol) and subjected to a strongly focused fundamental TEM/sub 00/ Gaussian laser beam. A schematic illustration of the rotator showing its placement in a single-beam gradient-force optical trap is shown.