Category Archives: Optical forces

Harnessing near-field light
Research paves the way for high resolution microscopy, more efficient optical communication and more By Leah Burrows There are many types of light — some visible and some invisible to the human eye. For example, polarized light is invisible because even though it hits our eyes, our brain doesn’t have the tools to process it. […]

Prix Agathon De Potter – Physique
Very honored to have been awarded the Agathon De Potter Award during the public event of l’Académie Royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts on December 15th, 2018.

Ultrasensitive 3D force spectroscopy detects unambiguously exotic force on a particle in an evanescent field
It was predicted in recent years that a non-chiral particle in an evanescent optical field (such as one generated by total internal reflection) is able to acquire linear momentum perpendicular to the plane of incidence from the spin component of the incoming light. When the helicity of the light is flipped, this momentum changes direction. […]

Imaginary gauge really enhances the optical force
Light consists of a flow of photons. If two waveguides – cables for light – are side by side, they attract or repel each other. The interaction is due to the optical force, but the effect is usually extremely small. Physicists at Chalmers University of Technology and Free University of Brussels have now found a […]