Zero-order free holographic optical tweezers

Holographic optical tweezers (HOTs) use spatial light modulators (SLM) to modulate light beams, thereby enabling the dynamic control of optical trap arrays with complex intensity and phase distributions. This has provided exciting new opportunities for cell sorting, microstructure machining, and studying single molecules. However, the pixelated structure of the SLM will inevitably bring up the unmodulated zero-order diffraction possessing an unacceptably large fraction of the incident light beam power. This is harmful to optical trapping because of the bright, highly localized nature of the errant beam. In this paper and to address this issue, we construct a cost-effective, zero-order free HOTs apparatus, thanks to a homemade asymmetric triangle reflector and a digital lens. As there is no zero-order diffraction, the instrument performs excellently in generating complex light fields and manipulating particles.

Automated summary

Holographic optical tweezers (HOTs) are used to dynamically control optical trap arrays with complex intensity and phase distributions. However, the pixelated structure of the spatial light modulator (SLM) brings up unmodulated zero-order diffraction, which is harmful to optical trapping. In this paper, a cost-effective, zero-order free HOTs apparatus is constructed to address this issue and it performs excellently in generating complex light fields and manipulating particles.