Characterisation of Nanoparticle Size Distributions in a Fluid using Optical Forces
Optics
2021-12-01 v1 Fluid Dynamics
Abstract
We introduce a method for analyzing the physical properties of nanoparticles in fluids via the competition between viscous drag and optical forces. By flowing particles through a microfluidic device containing an optical microcavity which acts as a combined optical trap and sensor, the variation of the rate of trapping events with the different forces can be established. A clear threshold behaviour is observed which provides a measure of a parameter combining the dielectric polarizability and the hydrodynamic radius. This technique could be applied in combination with other analytic techniques to provide a detailed physical characterisation of particles in solution.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2111.14989,
title = {Characterisation of Nanoparticle Size Distributions in a Fluid using Optical Forces},
author = {Kiana Malmir and William Okell and Aurélien A P Trichet and Jason M Smith},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2111.14989},
year = {2021}
}