Optical forces and optical torques on various materials arising from optical lattices in the Lorentz-Mie regime

Abstract

By combining the Maxwell stress tensor with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, we calculate the optical force and optical torque on particles from optical lattices. We compare our method to the two-component method and the electrostatic approximation (ESA). We also discuss how particle's refractive index, shape, size, and the morphology of an optical lattice influence optical forces and the condition to form stable optical trapping wells. In addition to optical forces, optical torque from one dimensional (1D) optical lattice is discussed for particles having anisotropic shapes; metastable and stable equilibrium orientation states are found. A detailed understanding of the optical force and torque from optical lattices has significant implications for optical trapping, micromanipulation, and sorting of particles. © 2011 American Physical Society.