Optical Trapping and Manipulation of Neutral Particles Using

This important volume contains selected papers and commentaries on laser trapping and manipulation of neutral particles using radiation pressure forces. These revolutionary optical techniques apply to atoms, molecules, dielectric particles, living cells and organelles within cells. They have made possible the cooling of atoms to the lowest temperature in the universe, the first demonstration of Bose-Einstein condensation of atomic vapors, the measurement of the driving forces of individual molecular motors, and the observation of their stepping motion. Only simple geometrical optics and semiclassical physics are used to explain the light forces and traps. The author is the discoverer of optical trapping and optical tweezers. With his colleagues he first demonstrated optical levitation, trapping of atoms, and tweezer trapping and manipulation of living cells and biological particles. This is the only review covering the entire scope of optical manipulation. The intention is to provide a selective guide to the literature and teach how optical traps really work.