Electromagnetic Forces and Torques: From Dielectrophoresis to Optical Tweezers

Electromagnetic forces and torques enable many key technologies, including optical tweezers or dielectrophoresis. Interestingly, both techniques rely on the same physical process: the interaction of an oscillating electric field with a particle of matter. This work provides a unified framework to understand this interaction both when considering fields oscillating at low frequencies-dielectrophoresis-and high frequencies-optical tweezers. We draw useful parallels between these two techniques, discuss the different and often unstated assumptions they are based upon, and illustrate key applications in the fields of physical and analytical chemistry, biosensing, and colloidal science.

Automated summary

Electromagnetic forces and torques play a crucial role in technologies like optical tweezers and dielectrophoresis, as they rely on the interaction between an oscillating electric field and matter particles. This study offers a unified framework for understanding this interaction at both low-frequency (dielectrophoresis) and high-frequency (optical tweezers) oscillations. It draws parallels between the two techniques, explores their underlying assumptions, and showcases important applications in physical and analytical chemistry, biosensing, and colloidal science.