Optical waveguide loop for planar trapping of blood cells and microspheres

Balpreet Singh Ahluwalia; Olav Gaute Hellesø

doi:10.1117/12.2023945

12 September 2013 Optical waveguide loop for planar trapping of blood cells and microspheres

Balpreet Singh Ahluwalia, Olav Gaute Hellesø

Proceedings Volume 8810, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation X; 88100T (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023945
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The evanescent field from a waveguide can be used to trap and propel a particle. An optical waveguide loop with an intentional gap at the center is used for planar transport and stable trapping of particles. The waveguide acts as a conveyor belt to trap and deliver spheres towards the gap. At the gap, the counter-diverging light fields hold the sphere at a fixed position. Numerical simulation based on the finite element method was performed in three dimensions using a computer cluster. The field distribution and optical forces for rib and strip waveguide designs are compared and discussed. The optical force on a single particle was computed for various positions of the particle in the gap. Simulation predicted stable trapping of particles in the gap. Depending on the gap separation (2-50 μm) a single or multiple spheres and red blood cells were trapped at the gap. Waveguides were made of tantalum pentaoxide material. The waveguides are only 180 nm thick and thus could be integrated with other functions on the chip.

Citation Download Citation

Balpreet Singh Ahluwalia and Olav Gaute Hellesø "Optical waveguide loop for planar trapping of blood cells and microspheres", Proc. SPIE 8810, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation X, 88100T (12 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023945

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