Spontaneous symmetry breaking and circulation by optically bound microparticle chains in Gaussian beam traps

Taylor, J.M.; Love, G.D.

doi:10.1103/physreva.80.053808

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and circulation by optically bound microparticle chains in Gaussian beam traps

Taylor, J.M.; Love, G.D.

Authors

J.M. Taylor

G.D. Love

Abstract

It has been known for some time that simple “optically bound” chains of dielectric microparticles can form in a counter propagating Gaussian beam optical trap. Here we report experimental observations of more complex trapped states, which do not reflect the underlying symmetry of the optical beam trap they are confined in. We discuss both stationary off-axis trapping and dynamic motion. We confirm the results using a rigorous Mie scattering model and also give a physical explanation for these static and dynamic off-axis trapped states.

Citation

Taylor, J., & Love, G. (2009). Spontaneous symmetry breaking and circulation by optically bound microparticle chains in Gaussian beam traps. Physical Review A, 80(5), Article 053808. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.80.053808

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Nov 1, 2009
Deposit Date	Nov 15, 2011
Publicly Available Date	Nov 27, 2012
Journal	Physical Review A
Print ISSN	1050-2947
Electronic ISSN	1094-1622
Publisher	American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	80
Issue	5
Article Number	053808
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.80.053808