OPTICAL LEVITATION MEASUREMENTS WITH INTENSITY-MODULATED LIGHT-BEAMS

Illumination of an optically levitated particle with an intensity-modu lated transverse beam induces a transverse vibration of a particle in an optical trap. Based on this, the trapping force of a trap can be me asured. Using an intensity-modulated longitudinal levitating beam caus es a particle to move vertically, allowing for the determination of so me aerodynamic parameters of a particle in air. The principles and the experimental phenomena are described and the initial results are give n. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.