Aiming at absolute force calibration of optical tweezers, following a critical review of proposed theoretical models, we present and test the results of MDSA (Mie-Debye-Spherical Aberration) theory, an extension of a previous (MD) model, taking account of spherical aberration at the glass/water interface. This first-principles theory is formulated entirely in terms of experimentally accessible parameters (none adjustable). Careful experimental tests of the MDSA theory, undertaken at two laboratories, with very different setups, are described. A detailed description is given of the procedures employed to measure laser beam waist, local beam power at the transparent microspheres trapped by the tweezers, microsphere radius and the trap transverse stiffness, as a function of radius and height in the (inverted microscope) sample chamber. We find generally very good agreement with MDSA theory predictions, for a wide size range, from the Rayleigh domain to large radii, including the values most often employed in practice, and at different chamber heights, both with objective overfilling and underfilling. The results asymptotically approach geometrical optics in the mean over size intervals, as they should, and this already happens for size parameters not much larger than unity. MDSA predictions for the trapping threshold, position of stiffness peak, stiffness variation with height, multiple equilibrium points and `hopping' effects among them are verified. Remaining discrepancies are ascribed to focus degradation, possibly arising from objective aberrations in the infrared, not yet included in MDSA theory.
In recent years, levitated particles of optical traps in vacuum have shown enormous potential in precision sensor development and searching for new physics. The accuracy of the calibration relating the detected signal to absolute displacement of the trapped particle is a critical factor for absolute measurement performance. In this paper, we suggest and experimentally demonstrate a novel calibration method for optical tweezers based on free-falling particles in vacuum, where the gravitational acceleration is introduced as an absolute reference. Our work provides a calibration protocol with gre…
Since their invention in 1986 by Arthur Ashkin and colleagues, optical tweezers have become an essential tool in several fields of physics, spectroscopy, biology, nanotechnology, and thermodynamics. In this Tutorial, we provide a primer on how to calibrate optical tweezers and how to use them for advanced applications. After a brief general introduction on optical tweezers, we focus on describing and comparing the various available calibration techniques. Then, we discuss some cutting-edge applications of optical tweezers in a liquid medium, namely to study single-molecule and single-cell mech…
Arthur Ashkin was awarded the 2018 Nobel prize in physics for the invention of optical tweezers. Since the first publication in 1986 Optical Tweezers have been used as a tool to measure forces and rheological properties of microscopic systems. For the calibration of these measurements, the knowledge of the forces is fundamental. However, it is still common to deduce the optical forces from assumptions based on the particle size with respect to the trapping laser wavelength. This show the necessity to develop a complete and accurate electromagnetic model that does not depend on early approximat…
Time-division multiplexing presents an attractive opportunity to probe multi-colloidal interactions in optical traps at short time-scales. In this paper, we demonstrate a stroboscopic system capable of arbitrary control of multiple trapped colloids with sensing at kHz rates and validate it using several simple multi-colloidal experiments. We expect this methodology will be of benefit in the study of group colloidal hydrodynamics and systems of active colloids, particularly where a temporal sensitivity beyond that of camera-based position sensing is required. In addition, our multiplexing enabl…
Model-Based Real-Time Synthesis of Acousto-Optically Generated Laser-Beam Patterns and Tweezer Arrays
Technische Universität Darmstadt（达姆施塔特工业大学）；Helmholtz Forschungsakademie Hessen für FAIR (HFHF), GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung（黑森FAIR赫尔霍兹研究学院，GSI重离子研究中心）
Intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) cameras are widely used in various applications such as microscopy, astronomy, spectroscopy. Often they are used as single-photon detectors, with thresholding being an essential part of the readout. In this paper, we measure the quantum efficiency of an ICCD camera in the single-photon detection mode using the Klyshko absolute calibration technique. The quantum efficiency is obtained as a function of the threshold value and of the wavelength of the detected light. In addition, we study the homogeneity of the photon sensitivity over the camera chip area.…
Detection of 15 dB Squeezed States of Light and their Application for the Absolute Calibration of Photoelectric Quantum Efficiency
Leibniz Universität Hannover（汉诺威莱布尼茨大学）；Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein-Institut)（引力物理学马克斯·普朗克研究所（阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦研究所））；Universität Hamburg（汉堡大学）；Institut für Laserphysik（激光物理研究所）；Zentrum für Optische Quantentechnologien（光学量子技术中心）
Quantum cascade laser (QCL) frequency combs have revolutionized mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy by their high brightness and fast temporal resolution, and are a promising technology for fully-integrated and cost-effective sensors. As for other integrated comb sources such as micro-combs and interband cascade laser, QCLs have a comb spacing of several GHz, which is adequate for measurements of wide absorbing structures, typically found in liquid or solid samples. However, high-resolution gas-phase spectra require spectral interleaving and frequency calibration. We developed a frequency calibrat…
We discuss the design of an optical system that allows measurement of 600 nm to 1650 nm emission spectra for individual nanoparticles (NPs), laser heated in an electrodynamic trap in controlled atmospheres. An approach to calibration of absolute intensity vs. wavelength for very low emission intensities is discussed, and examples of NP graphite and carbon black spectra are used to illustrate the methodology.
