MRI/RUI Proposal for Acquisition of Laser and Microscope for Optical Trapping and Manipulation of Large Numbers of Particles

这项主要研究仪器RUI拨款支持购买5瓦，532纳米，连续波激光器和研究级显微镜，以便对新的粒子捕获方法和光学束缚结构中粒子之间相互作用的研究可以推进。全息技术极大地扩展了激光镊子的能力，使物质的光学操作成为可能，使其成为复杂的二维或三维图案和包含大量粒子的形状。这也将提供必要的校内研究机会，并将导致更多的本科生参与研究。这种工具使面向研究训练的新课程模块成为可能，这些课程模块将与更大的社区共享。伊利诺伊卫斯理大学（IWU）的学生帮助开发了两种非光刻组装技术。新的仪器对于这个研究小组继续开发进一步的技术至关重要。此外，这种仪器为本科课程的主动性提供了新的机会，影响到生物和物理专业的学生，以及工程预科学生。将微和纳米组件组织成更大的结构或组件对许多活动和学科至关重要。IWU研究小组展示的技术有可能影响生物学和生物工程、微机电设备领域以及许多其他领域的研究，这些领域的进展受到微观水平上配置非光刻结构的需要的限制。最显著的影响可能来自光子学领域：光纤通信网络可能受益于设计“光子带隙”设备的能力，这种设备在光学领域的作用可能与半导体在电子工业中的作用相同。＊＊＊

This Major Research Instrumentation RUI grant supports acquisition of a 5-watt, 532 nm, CW laser and research-grade microscope so that the research on new particle trapping methods and on the interactions between particles in optically-bound structures can advance. Holographic techniques significantly extend the capabilities of laser tweezing, making possible optical manipulation of matter into complex two- or three-dimensional patterns and shapes containing large numbers of particles. This will also provide essential, on-campus research opportunities and will result in greater undergraduate research involvement. This instrumentation makes possible new course modules geared toward research training that will be shared with the larger community. Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) students have helped to develop two techniques for non-lithographic means of assembly. The new instrumentation is essential to allow this research team to continue to develop further techniques. Moreover, this instrumentation offers novel opportunities for initiative in the undergraduate curriculum, affecting biology and physics majors, as well as pre-engineering students. %%%Organizing micro-and nano-components into larger structures or assemblies is crucial to many activities and disciplines. The technologies which the IWU research team has demonstrated have the potential to impact research in biology and bio-engineering, the field of micro-electro-mechanical devices, and many other fields where progress has been restricted by the need to configure non-lithographic structures at the microscopic level. The most noticeable impact may come in the field of Photonics: fiber-optic communication networks may benefit from the ability to engineer "photonic-bandgap" devices, which could play the same role in optics that semiconductors have played in the electronics industry. ***