Tilt angle dependent three-dimensional-position detection of a trapped cylindrical particle in a focused laser beam

We investigated theoretically the applicability of an optically trapped cylindrical particle as a local probe in photonic force microscopy. To do this we calculated the far-field scattering from a subwavelength-sized dielectric cylinder in a highly focused laser field. From this we obtained interferometric three-dimensional-position detection signals and compared these to signals calculated for a spherical particle. We have calculated the accuracy to which the position of an optically trapped cylinder can be determined, as a function of the cylinder's orientational fluctuations. The position accuracy is better than a few nanometers for tilt angle fluctuations up to several degrees. Our study is relevant for trapping experiments, where the influence of angle fluctuations needs to be estimated. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.