title: Three-dimensional optical trapping of partially silvered silica microparticles.
abstract: We demonstrate three-dimensional trapping of micrometer-diameter silica particles, partially coated with silver, within conventional optical tweezers. Although metallic particles are usually repelled from the beam focus by the scattering force, we show that transparent spheres partially coated with silver can be trapped with efficiencies comparable with dielectric particles. The trapping characteristics of these particles are examined as a function of metallic coverage, and the application of these particles to surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering is investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Glasgow, Scotland G12 8LT, UK. p.jordan@physics.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McNay
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Docherty
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Padgett
mesh_terms: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007834:Lasers; D008422:Materials Testing; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008863:Microspheres; D009038:Motion; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D012834:Silver; D012822:Silicon Dioxide