Experiments, Applications and Modeling of Advanced Optical Traps for Manipulating and Sorting Micro and Nano Particles

这项研究的重点是分离和分选在许多科学和工业过程中发现的微观颗粒。 控制这些颗粒的尺寸分布和类型在当今的制药、制造和科学界是必不可少的。 这项研究的目标是（i）使用先进的全息光学陷阱作为一种非侵入性，非破坏性的粒子分离和操纵手段，（ii）发展理论，目前缺乏，设计这些过程。 这项工作的新奇在于，定制的光阱将根据被操纵的粒子的性质而开发。数学模型，作为研究工作的一部分，将纳入基本的输入参数，如光学陷阱景观，颗粒大小，颗粒类型和陷阱几何形状的时间变化。这些模型将通过与实验结果的比较来验证，这项工作将为光阱的新的临床、制造和研究应用打开大门，并导致许多重要领域的进步。研究生和本科生都将有机会通过研究助理和普渡大学本科奖学金参与研究。此外，随后的本科生研究经验将被写入NSF，以支持该项目的第二个本科生。研究的结果将传播给研究生和本科生作为学习单位在Wewey的微/纳米物理过程类和他的微/纳米流体力学类。

This research is focused at separating and sorting the microscopic particles found in many scientific and industrial processes. Control over the size distribution and type of such particles is essential in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and scientific communities today. The goals of this research are to (i) use advanced holographic optical traps as a non-invasive, non-destructive means of particle separation and manipulation and (ii) to develop the theory, currently lacking, for designing these processes. The novelty of this work is that custom-tailored optical traps will be developed depending on the properties of the particles to be manipulated. Mathematical models, developed as part of the research work, will incorporate the basic input parameters such as the optical trap landscape, particle size, particle type, and temporal variation of trap geometry. These models will be validated by comparison with experimental results.This work will open the door for new clinical, manufacturing, and research applications for optical traps and lead to advances in many essential fields. Both graduate and undergraduate students will have the chance to participate in the research through research assistantships and a Purdue undergraduate fellowship. Also, a subsequent Research Experience for Undergraduates research will be written to the NSF to support a second undergraduate student on the project. The results of the research will be disseminated to both graduate and undergraduate students as learning units in Wereley's Micro/Nanoscale Physical Processes class and his Micro/Nano Fluid Mechanics class.