Transcript Document

Optical Tweezers
rolf
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Project Goals

We will calibrate the strength of an optical
trap (Optical Tweezer)

Optical Tweezers may be used to measure
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very small forces (femtoNewton, 10 N)

Applications include Biophysics
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Description

A laser beam is expanded and collimated.
This collimated beam is directed through a
microscope objective into a flow cell.
Spheres with a higher index of refraction
than the medium in the cell (water) will be
trapped at the focus of the beam.
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Trapping a particle with light
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Optical trapping of dielectric spheres

Force due to refraction is always toward the focus
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What about reflection?
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Dual beam tweezer design
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Dual-beam Tweezers are nice
But we aren’t going to make one.
 Dual beam instruments are more
complicated and difficult to align and
have at least twice the equipment
investment (2 objectives, 2 lasers,
etc.
 So we are building a single-beam
tweezer.

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Schematic diagram
Laser line mirror
Laser
Beam expander
Cell
White Light Source
CCD
Color Filter
Laser line mirror
Objective
Tip
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Full view
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Side view
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Top view
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Room light
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Laser light
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Flow cell
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In the flow cell

We apply a force to the trapped sphere by
flowing water through the cell. This force is
dependent on radius r, viscosity η, and
velocity v of the water.
Fdrag  6rv

Within the limits of the strength of the trap,
the sphere remains trapped, but undergoes
a displacement under the influence of this
external force just like a mass on a spring.
F  kx
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Apply a known force

If a known force is
applied, and the
displacement is
measured, the
‘stiffness’ of the optical
trap may be
determined.
6rv
k
x
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Viscosity, velocity

Viscosity is a function of temperature, which we
will measure.

Velocity of the fluid flow through the cell will be
derived by dimensions of the cell, and may also
be directly measured by displacement vs. time of
spheres traveling through the flow cell with the
trap inactive.
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Velocity as a function of Δh

We will take measurements of flow rate and
displacement as a function of time at a range of
heights in order to determine v as a function of
Δh.
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Putting it all together

With the data we will collect, we can
determine the stiffness of the trap.

This determined, we could, in future
experiments, determine the tiny
forces involved in biological
processes. For example, the
overstretchng transition of DNA:
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Overstretching transition of DNA
http://www.atsweb.neu.edu/mark/opticaltweezersmovies.html
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Team/Resources

Our team:
– People: Rolf Karlstad and Joe Peterson
– Equipment: 633 nm laser, microscope
objective, CCD camera, dichroic
mirrors, white light source, optical table
and various optical elements
– Where: Physics 66
– Advisor: Kurt Wick
– Cell created in student shop
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Schedule
Week 1
2/20-2/24
Begin set-up of tweezers apparatus. Determine how to construct flow cell.
Week 2
2/27-3/3
Finish set-up of tweezers. Continue constructing flow cell.
Week 3
3/6-3/10
Finish flow cell construction and integrate into the rest of the experimental set-up. Try to
trap particles.
Week 4
3/13-3/17
Spring Break
Week 5
3/20-3/24
Measure height dependant flow rate of water through cell.
Week 6
3/27-3/31
Finish flow rate measurements. Begin measuring position changes of trapped particles
under viscous drag forces.
Week 7
4/3-4/7
Continue to measure position changes of trapped particles.
Week 8
4/10-4/14
Finish data taking, begin data analysis
Week 9
4/17-4/21
Finish data analysis, begin final report.
Week 10
4/24-4/28
Finish final report.
Week 11
5/1-5/5
Final presentations.
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Current Status

High-level overview of progress
against schedule
– On-track !
– Leak fixing cell
– Apparatus built, flow cell built, working
out minor issues
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Project Goals repeated

We will calibrate the strength of an
optical trap (Optical Tweezer)

Optical Tweezers may be used to
measure very small forces
-15
(femtoNewton, 10 N)
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References

K. Dholakia, P. Reece. Optical micromanipulation takes hold. Nano Today, Volume 1,
Number 1. February 2006.

Mark C. Williams. Optical Tweezers: Measuring Piconewton Forces. Previously
published in Biophysics Textbook Online. Available at:
http://www.biophysics.org/education/williams.pdf

K. Dholakia, G. Spalding, M. MacDonald. Optical tweezers: the next generation.
Physics World, October 2002.
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B. Tuominen, R .Hoglund. Optical Tweezers. May 2005. At the time of writing available
at the MXP website: http://mxp.physics.umn.edu/s05/Projects/S05Tweezer/

Kurt Wick. University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, MN. February 2006. Private
Conversation.

Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 80th edition. CRC Press, Florida. Pg 6-3. 1999.

Mark C. Williams. Northeastern University, Boston, MA. January 2006. Private
correspondence.
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