Plasmonic Nanoparticle Chain in a Light Field: A Resonant Optical Sail

Optical trapping and driving of small objects has become a topic of increasing interest in multidisciplinary sciences. We propose to use a chain made of:metallic nanoparticles as a resonant light sail, attached by one end point to a transparent object and propelling it by the use of electromagnetic radiation. Driving,Forces exerted on the chain are theoretically studied as a function of radiation's wavelength and chain's alignments with respect to the direction of radiation. Interestingly, there is a window in the frequency spectrum in which null torque equilibrium configuration, with minimum geometric cross section, corresponds to a maximum in the driving force.