Rotation of Microscopic Objects Using a Rapidly Scanned Beam Laser

George Newbury

Advisor: Dr. Enrique Galvez

Optical tweezers using light from an argon laser are used to trap, translate, and rotate microscopic objects in two dimensions. Using two motorized mirrors and simple lenses we designed an optical system that allows the beam to be scanned in the x-y plane. A function generator controls the amplitude, frequency, and position the scanned beam. The image of the trapped object is captured by a CCD and output to a monitor  allowing direct visualization of the beam and object.