title: Directed assembly of optically bound matter.
abstract: We present a study of optically bound matter formation in a counter-propagating evanescent field, exploiting total internal reflection on a prism surface. Small ensembles of silica microspheres are assembled in a controlled manner using optical tweezers. The structures and dynamics of the resulting optically bound chains are interpreted using a simulation implementing generalized Lorentz-Mie theory. In particular, we observe enhancement of the scattering force along the propagation direction of the optically bound colloidal chains leading to a microscopic analogue of a driven pendulum which, at least superficially, resembles Newton's cradle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, PTCL, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dear
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Grant A D
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ritchie
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D008027:Light; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008863:Microspheres; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D016011:Normal Distribution; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide