Subwavelength optical trapping with a fiber-based surface plasmonic lens

We demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) optical trapping of subwavelength polystyrene beads and bacteria with a surface plasmonic lens fabricated on the endface of an optical fiber. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of 3D trapping of subwavelength particles with single fiber optical tweezers. The optical power for achieving a stable 3D trap is smaller compared with conventional optical tweezers, indicating a stronger trap. Compared with surface plasmon tweezers, the trap enabled by our fiber tweezers is located approximate to 6 wavelengths away from the fiber endface, reducing thermal effects due to the metal absorption and preventing physical contact with the trapped objects. (c) 2013 Optical Society of America