Propulsion of gold nanoparticles on optical waveguides

The optimization of potassium ion-exchanged optical waveguides in glass for evanescent field propulsion of colloidal gold nanoparticles is reported. Velocity dependence upon ion-exchange parameters is given and a maximum velocity of 8 mum/s was achieved for 10-40 nm radius particles with 500 mW modal power at 1.047 mum. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.