Electro-Optically Induced Force System for Scalable Sample Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for manipulating objects using laser light are limited by the risk of damage to the sample due to high laser intensity and inefficiency in transferring force over longer distances, as they often rely on electric charge polarization or photon momentum transfer, which is inefficient for larger samples.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an electro-optically induced force by creating a net interaction between the electric field of a laser beam and a charge distribution, allowing for scalable manipulation without focusing the laser directly on the sample, using techniques such as retro-reflection, transmissive optics, and phase modulation to achieve a non-zero net field interaction over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If laser light is focused on the target sample to induce electric charge polarization, then manipulation force is generated, but the sample can be overheated, ionized or destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a charged wire as an intermediary element that mediates the interaction between the laser and the sample. The laser creates an electric field that interacts with the charged wire, and this interaction produces a force that manipulates the sample without the laser directly acting on it. This intermediary approach allows force generation while avoiding direct laser-sample contact that causes damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical/optical interaction (laser focusing on sample) with an electromagnetic field interaction system. Instead of using focused laser light to directly manipulate the sample through polarization, the system uses a charged wire to convert the laser's electric field into mechanical force, substituting the direct optical-mechanical interaction with an electromagnetic-mechanical conversion process
2Force
If traditional techniques are used to manipulate larger samples, then manipulation is achieved, but the efficiency of laser energy coupling into translation is low
Solution Approach 1:
The charged wire acts as an energy conversion intermediary that efficiently couples laser energy into mechanical force. The wire's charge allows it to interact strongly with the laser's electric field, converting electromagnetic energy into mechanical work with high efficiency, and transferring this force to the sample
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interaction parameters by introducing a charged wire with specific charge density and positioning it at optimal distances from both the laser and sample. This parameter optimization maximizes the energy transfer efficiency from laser to mechanical force to sample manipulation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient and scalable manipulation of larger samples by integrating force over longer distances, reducing the risk of sample damage and improving energy utilization, with the potential to lift tons using arrays of low-cost, high-power lasers.
Implementation Method 1
a first electromagnetic field is generated using a charge carrier... a second electromagnetic field is generated that has a non-zero time integral at the location of the charge carrier... The second electromagnetic field interacts with the first electromagnetic field thereby producing a force on the charge carrier
Data Source
AI summary
A technique is disclosed for electro-optically inducing a force to fabricated samples and/or devices with laser light. The technique uses the interaction of the oscillating electric field of the laser beam in opposition with the electric field produced by an appropriate electric charge carrier to achieve a net repulsive (or attractive) force on the component holding the electric charge. In one embodiment, force is achieved when the field near the charge carrier is modulated at a subharmonic of the electric field oscillation frequency of the laser and the relative phases of the light field and electric charge carrier field are controlled to provide optimal repulsion/attraction. The effect is scalable by applying the technique to an array of charge carrier fields sequentially as well as using higher power lasers and higher carrier field voltages.