Semjase Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 This is the first time a light beam has been used to draw objects towards the light source. What current law of physics would explain this phenomenon? http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2013/title,97477,en.php http://www.wallstreetdaily.com/2013/04/15/video-tractor-beam/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-21187598 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 I'm guessing it's the dipole force, making the particles seek the highest field. You move the beam waist toward the source and the particles will follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semjase Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 (edited) I'm guessing it's the dipole force, making the particles seek the highest field. You move the beam waist toward the source and the particles will follow. I think this physicist may have the correct answer. Although if this physicist's analysis is correct then the a particle with a reflective surface with the same size and mass as shown in the video struck with the same two lasers would have be accelerated away from the lasers at approximately the same velocity as the transparent particle would move towards the two lasers as discussed in the video. Edited April 17, 2013 by Semjase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Just wondering, how is that different from standard optical tweezers (yeah I know, I should read the articles...)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Just wondering, how is that different from standard optical tweezers (yeah I know, I should read the articles...)? The thing is, the press releases don't go into that level of detail, and I haven't read the original paper, but I'm thinking it's the same effect. The "never been done before" is technically correct, they're also implying it's a new technique, which would be hyperbole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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