title: Self-aligned spatial filtering using laser optical tweezers.
abstract: We present an optical spatial filtering device that has been integrated into a microfluidic system and whose motion and alignment is controlled using a laser optical tweezer. The lithographically patterned micro-optical spatial filter device filters out higher frequency additive noise components by automatically aligning itself in three dimensions to the focus of the laser beam. This self-alignment capability is achieved through the attachment of a refractive optical element directly over the circular aperture or pinhole of the spatial filter. A discussion of two different spatial filter designs is presented along with experimental results that demonstrate the effectiveness of the self-aligned micro-optic spatial filter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0407, USA. alb@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Birkbeck
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zlatanovic
authors.forename: Sadik C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Esener
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D007909:Lenses; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation