All-optical manipulation of microstructures for lab-on-a-scope applications

Abstract

The potential applications of standard laboratory procedures miniaturized into micron-scale "lab-on-a-scope" devices have been a subject of intense and competitive field of research and development. The main advantages brought about by the downsizing of flow-mediated analytical procedures include the significant reduction in volume of raw materials, faster and higher throughput results, and the ability to perform several processes in parallel. Microstructures can be operated by light to represent complex microcomponents for use in lab-on-a-scope environments. The components, i.e., switches, pumps, valves, mixers, separators and more, in micro-fluidic or lab-on-a-scope devices can be optically fabricated as well as optically-operated within a single environment. For efficient light control, advanced beam shaping features can be used for the assembly of complex micromachinery. The same light can subsequently be applied for powering and controlling these devices in a fully parallel manner. Complex beams in combination with particles of arbitrarily structured formations provide for unique possibilities like spatial alignment. orientation, rotation, switching and independent control of the different forces acting on the manipulated particles. In addition, arrays of beams formed by polarized light can orient or continuously rotate arrays of birefringent particles.