Measurement of localized heating in the focus of an optical trap.
Localized heating in the focus of an optical trap operating in water can result in a temperature rise of several kelvins. We present spatially resolved measurements of the refractive-index distribution induced by the localized heating produced in an optical trap and infer the temperature distribution. We have determined a peak temperature rise in water of 4 K in the focus of a 985-nm-wavelength 55-mW laser beam. The localized heating is directly proportional to power and the absorption coefficient. The temperature distribution is in excellent agreement with a model based on the heat equation.
Celliers
P M
PM
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550, USA. celliers1@llnl.gov
Conia
J
J