Optical brake induced by laser shock waves

Abstract

We demonstrate an optical method to modify friction forces between two close-contact surfaces through laser-induced shock waves, which can strongly enhance surface friction forces in a sandwiched confinement with/without lubricant, due to the increase of pressure arising from excited shock waves. Such enhanced friction can even lead to a rotating rotor’s braking effect. Meanwhile, this shock wave-modified friction force is found to decrease under a free-standing configuration. This technique of optically controllable friction may pave the way for applications in optical levitation, transportation, and microfluidics.