Learn about optical tweezers, a groundbreaking technique using laser beams to trap and manipulate tiny particles, revolutionizing research in biophysics, nanotechnology, and soft matter physics
Optical tweezers use highly focused laser beams to trap and manipulate tiny particles, like cells and molecules.
The technique can apply minuscule forces, perfect for studying the mechanical properties of biological molecules.
Widely used in biophysics, optical tweezers allow researchers to probe the mechanics of DNA, proteins, and other biomolecules.
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Essential in nanotechnology, optical tweezers help assemble and manipulate nanoscale materials.
Crucial for soft matter physics, they enable the study of colloids, polymers, and other soft materials.
Optical tweezers can manipulate cells without damaging them, making them ideal for biological experiments.
They offer high precision in positioning and measuring forces on microscopic objects.
Applications range from studying bacterial flagella to measuring molecular motors' forces.
The trapping effect arises from the momentum transfer of photons as they are refracted or reflected by the particle.