Demonstration of optical flow force of micro-objects on a coverslip-scale optical polymer waveguide

Q Qun Dai Y Yanjun Hu B Bowen Niu (Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University 1 , Beijing 100044,) Y Yu Ao Y Yu Qiao X Xuanwei Xu (Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University 1 , Beijing 100044,) Y Yuan Li M Mingdi Bao (Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences 3 , Hefei 230031,) G Guofang Fan (Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University 1 , Beijing 100044,)

Abstract

In this Letter, an optical flow force of micro-objects on a coverslip-scale optical polymer waveguide is demonstrated. The light is coupled into a coverslip-scale optical polymer waveguide with microparticles by a coupled lens, inducing whispering gallery mode in microparticles on the optical waveguide surface. The simulation and experiment show that microparticles on a coverslip-scale optical polymer waveguide are subjected to a rightward and leftward optical flow force for concentrations of 10%–80% and 90%–100% of the ambient fluid medium, respectively. This finding enables selective bidirectional manipulation of microparticles on a coverslip-scale optical polymer waveguide through controlled variation of glycerol concentration.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 6
Published August 11, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

Q

Qun Dai

Y

Yanjun Hu

B

Bowen Niu

Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University 1 , Beijing 100044,

Y

Yu Ao

Y

Yu Qiao

X

Xuanwei Xu

Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University 1 , Beijing 100044,

Y

Yuan Li

M

Mingdi Bao

Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences 3 , Hefei 230031,

G

Guofang Fan

Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University 1 , Beijing 100044,