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Morphology-independent general-purpose optical surface tractor beam

Author

Listed:
  • Neng Wang

    (Shenzhen University)

  • Jack Ng

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Guo Ping Wang

    (Shenzhen University
    Shenzhen University)

Abstract

Optical tractor beams capable of pulling particles backward have garnered significant and increasing interest. Traditional optical tractor beams are limited to free space beams with small forward wavevectors, enabling them to pull selected particles. Here, we present a comprehensive theory for the optical force exerted by a surface wave using analytical and numerical calculations, revealing the relationship between the canonical momentum and optical forces. Based on this theory, we demonstrate a general purpose optical surface tractor beam that can pull any passive particle, regardless of size, composition, or geometry. The tractor beam utilizes a surface wave with negative canonical momentum characterized by a single well-defined negative Bloch k vector. The tractor beam relies on a mechanism where the negative incident force always surpasses the recoil force. As such, the tractor beam, when excited on the surface of a double-negative index metamaterial, can pull particles with different morphologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Neng Wang & Jack Ng & Guo Ping Wang, 2024. "Morphology-independent general-purpose optical surface tractor beam," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51100-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51100-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. B. Wang & C. T. Chan, 2014. "Lateral optical force on chiral particles near a surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, May.
    2. Francisco J. Rodríguez-Fortuño & Nader Engheta & Alejandro Martínez & Anatoly V. Zayats, 2015. "Erratum: Lateral forces on circularly polarizable particles near a surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-1, December.
    3. Francisco J. Rodríguez-Fortuño & Nader Engheta & Alejandro Martínez & Anatoly V. Zayats, 2015. "Lateral forces on circularly polarizable particles near a surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Eungkyu Lee & Dezhao Huang & Tengfei Luo, 2020. "Ballistic supercavitating nanoparticles driven by single Gaussian beam optical pushing and pulling forces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
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