Electric levitation of nano-objects in zero-index environment (ELONEX)

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For numerous key applications in medicine, chemistry, and physics the mechanical manipulation of nano-elements is of fundamental importance. In this regard, the demonstration of an optical force with spatial resolution of few hundreds of nanometres led to the 2018 Nobel prize for the invention of optical tweezers. However, the need for alternative tools capable of overcoming current limitations is only growing. For instance, optical tweezers require the targeted nano-elements to have certain shapes while being constituted by a set of semi-transparent materials to be fully effective. In addition to this, the small magnitude of the force limits the use of this technology to sub-micron scale particles. The proposed project aims at enriching the toolbox for mechanical handling of nano/micro-objects with a new optical force that so far exists only in the theoretical realm. This mechanical force will be triggered by ultra-fast optical pulses and has the potential to address previously listed limitations.