Reflection mode optical trapping using polarization symmetry breaking from tilted double nanoholes

Abstract

We demonstrate reflection geometry optical trapping using double nanoholes in a metal film. Symmetry breaking of the double nanohole allows for selecting the scattered trapping laser light of orthogonal polarization to the incident beam. This orthogonal polarization light shows a few percent increase when the nanoparticle (e.g., a 20 nm polystyrene particle, or protein bovine serum albumin) is trapped. The reflection geometry simplifies the optical setup and frees up one side of the trap, which has great potential for adding microfluidics to the other side or working with opaque or highly scattering samples.