Enhancement of transverse trapping efficiency for a metallic particle using an obstructed laser beam

We report that the transverse trapping efficiency for a metallic particle can be enhanced by use of a laser beam obstructed by a circular opaque disk. In the case of gold particles, the enhancement factor for a p- or s-polarized trapping beam is at least 1.7 or 2.5, respectively. The dependence of the transverse trapping efficiency for gold particles (diameter=2 mu m) on the size of the obstruction is measured and agrees with the theoretical prediction based on the ray-optics model. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)01527-8].