optical tweezer

English

Noun

optical tweezer (plural optical tweezers)

1. A scientific instrument that uses a highly focused laser beam to hold and move the microscopic or smaller objects such as atoms and droplets, in a manner similar to tweezers.
   • 2003, L. Allen, Stephen M. Barnett, Miles J. Padgett, Optical Angular Momentum, page 240:

     This angular momentum has been transferred to macroscopic particles trapped in an optical tweezer causing them to rotate.

   • 2006, Banafshe Larijani, Colin A. Rosser, Rudiger Woscholski, Chemical Biology: Techniques and Applications, page 207:

     In order to make calibrated measurements from single molecules two more items are required: (1) a four-quadrant photodiode position sensor (4QD) to accurately measure the position of the bead held in the optical tweezer (Figure 12.5); […]

Related terms

• optical levitation