Polarization-sensitive photophoresis

We photophoretically trap spherical airborne particles using a single radially or azimuthally polarized laser beam and show that the trapping efficiency is significantly higher for the radial polarization. The demonstrated polarization sensitivity of the photophoretic force, which is caused by polarization-dependent reflection from the particles, adds additional flexibility to the optical micromanipulation of light absorbing particles in gaseous media. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4742137]