title: Precision steering of an optical trap by electro-optic deflection.
abstract: We designed, constructed, and tested a single-beam optical trapping instrument employing twin electro-optic deflectors (EODs) to steer the trap in the specimen plane. Compared with traditional instruments based on acousto-optic deflectors (AODs), EOD-based traps offer a significant improvement in light throughput and a reduction in deflection-angle (pointing) errors. These attributes impart improved force and position resolution, making EOD-based traps a promising alternative for high-precision nanomechanical measurements of biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Megan T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Guydosh
authors.forename: Braulio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Medina
authors.forename: Adrian N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: Johan O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Andreasson
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Block
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002138:Calibration; D004867:Equipment Design; D007368:Interferometry; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008846:Micromanipulation; D008853:Microscopy; D008954:Models, Biological; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016547:Kinesins