Fractional optical vortex beam induced rotation of particles

We experimentally demonstrate optical rotation and manipulation of microscopic particles by use of optical vortex beams with fractional topological charges, namely fractional optical vortex beams, which are coupled in an optical tweezers system. Like the vortex beams with integer topological charges, the fractional optical vortex beams are also capable of rotating particles induced by the transfer of orbital angular momentum. However, the unique radial opening (low-intensity gap) in the intensity ring encompassing the dark core, due to the fractional nature of the beam, hinders the rotation significantly. The fractional vortex beam's orbital angular momentum and radial opening are exploited to guide and transport microscopic particles. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.