Optical Gradient Force on Chiral Nanoparticles

摘要

Optical trapping of nanoparticles is realized by optical gradient force originated from the intensity gradient of light with a focused beam. It is expected that the gradient force depending on the circular polarization (CP) acts on particles with chiral structures. Here, we investigate the CP-dependent gradient force on the chiral gold nanoparticles. We found that the amplitude (dispersion of the position of the Brownian motion) depends on the handedness of the incident light in both cases of D- and L-form particles. Based on the results on the gradient force for the chiral particles, it is expected that chiral nanomaterials can be handled by the circularly polarized light.