Special issue focuses on optical micromanipulation

01 Aug 2007

Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics presents a special issue dedicated to the exciting topic of optical micromanipulation.

Since its inception in the late 1960s, optical micromanipulation has made a major impact across all fields in science. These manipulation techniques – in which light is used to trap and maneuver objects ranging in size from single atoms to large cells – allow the objects to be confined and organized with high precision.

Optical micromanipulation has already made an exceptional contribution in areas such as single-molecule biophysics, and is playing a key role in the emerging field of atomtronics.

Current new directions in the field include applications in cell biology, microfluidics, cell sorting, local viscosity measurements and novel biological studies. Meanwhile, combining traps with other spectroscopic methods and imaging modes poses interesting challenges but also promises exciting new insights.

This special issue of Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics provides a valuable insight into the current directions of a fascinating field (2007 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 9). The articles selected by guest editors Norman Heckenberg and Kishan Dholakia cover all key areas, along with a number of contributions describing the fundamental theory of optical traps.

The articles will be free to view until the end of September.