Optical Tweezing Kit: An Out-of-the-Box Solution with Power

02 Feb 2023

Optical tweezing can be used to manipulate objects ranging in size from 10’s of nanometers to 10’s of microns and objects with a variety of material characteristics. Trapping examples include cellular organisms, dielectric spheres, metallic spheres, metallic nanoshells, carbon nanotubes, air bubbles, and even water droplets in air.

The Meadowlark Optics’ Optical Tweezing Kit provides researchers with a portable, stand-alone, optical tweezing platform as well as a simple to use graphical user interface (GUI) and software development kit to enable customization, calibration, and computations without requiring in-depth knowledge of tweezing theory. Thus, the default configuration allows a user to quickly and easily manipulate microscopic objects in three dimensions (3D) using the provided GUI and pre-built optical system. The accessible design allows for hassle-free customization allowing users to easily add or remove components.

KEY TRAPPING FEATURES • Traps can be moved interactively and independently in 3 dimensions • High-speed Spatial Light Modulator operation increases closed-loop trapping and tracking stability. • Clearly defined optical design, and accessible implementation make the system ideal for customization. • Enclosed lens tubes with side ports allow a user to check how light is propagating through the optical system, while simultaneously keeping optics dust-free and the system eye-safe.

TWEEZING SOFTWARE FEATURES • GUI with dynamic control of trap number, size, position • Aberration correction included • Included SDK functions enable custom software development by computing holograms, as well as computing and applying Affine transformations to co-align camera and tweezing coordinates. SDK functions are compatible with C++, LabVIEW, Matlab, and Python

PORTABILITY • Fully enclosed laser beam path allows its use outside of laser labs • All alignment controls are accessible with laser shielding in place • Optics come mounted on an 18 x 18-inch breadboard OPTICAL DESIGN • 1920 x 1200 Spatial Light Modulator • Laser, 160 mW at 639 nm • High NA (1.35) 40x oil immersion microscope objective • Dichroic beamsplitter directs >90% of 400-870 nm light to camera port • Minimal moving parts to maximize stability (no floating table required.)