Multibeam laser manipulation and fixation of microparticles

Abstract

A multibeam laser trapping-reaction system was developed to demonstrate independent manipulation of plural microparticles as well as to induce photochemical reaction in a laser-trapped particle(s). Photopolymerization of vinyl monomers dissolved in a sample solution was employed to fix polystyrene latex particles regularly aligned by laser trapping. Integrated latex structures created by the successive manipulation/polymerization procedures were also shown to be freely manipulated by laser beams.