Patent Application
20090244692
The present invention relates to an optical tweezers system and a method for operating such a system. In particular, the present invention is directed to a beam manipulation member with a deformable optical element comprised in an optical tweezers system.
Applications of optical tweezers are found for example in biology, physics, nanofabrication, and as optical actuators for miniaturized machines.
The principle of optical tweezers is based on the exploitation of the forces of radiation pressure. A strongly focused laser beam is capable of catching and holding particles (of dielectric material) in a size range from nm to μm. This technique makes it possible to study and manipulate particles like atoms, molecules (even large) and small dielectric spheres. Basic properties of optical tweezers are that a particle becomes trapped in a light intensity distribution. The light exerts a force on the particle in a gradient intensity distribution towards the point where the intensity reaches its maximum. As a result, for instance a particle can be trapped in the focal point of an optical beam. Changing the position of the focal point also changes the position of the particle in space. Mechanical means using a motor or piezo actuator for displacing the lens or tilting a mirror are known. A drawback of these mechanical means is that they are complicated and require mechanically moveable parts that are susceptible to wear. Furthermore, each additional degree of freedom normally requires a dedicated actuator and possibly also an additional optical element such as a lens or a mirror. Accordingly, an exemplary optical tweezers system having three translational and one rotational degrees of freedom becomes complicated and rather expensive.
It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative to mechanical means for manipulation of a laser beam in an optical tweezers.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a beam manipulation member for use in an optical tweezers system, the beam manipulation member comprising at least one optical element, being controllably deformable in order to act on a beam in response to signals coming from the optical tweezers system.
The beam manipulation member of this aspect of the present invention provides for beam control in an optical tweezers system. It has the capability of assuming the functionality of substantially mechanical beam manipulation means currently used in optical tweezers systems. At the same time, the beam manipulation member of the present invention is less susceptible to the above-mentioned drawbacks of mechanical means. It may even be exempt from one or more drawbacks due to its different configuration, such as for example mechanical tolerances. The beam is for example a laser beam employed in an optical tweezers system to trap particles, bacteria or other. Due to the deformability of the optical element, beam manipulation may be more flexible than in previous arrangements. It also offers the opportunity to reduce the number of optical elements in the path of the beam. Several functions that up to now each required a distinct optical element may be consolidated.
Beam manipulation is to be understood as an action on the beam by which one or more of the beam's properties can be changed when passing through the beam manipulation member. In particular, the beam's geometric properties are subject to be changed by the beam manipulation member, such as the beam direction, its convergence, the shape of its cross section, to name a few.
The optical element represents the component that directly acts on the beam. It may be a refractive optical element or a reflective optical element. The optical element may also present a diffracting effect. The optical element is deformable so that the internal spatial material distribution of the optical element can be changed. Optical effects such as refraction or reflection typically occur at locations where the propagation medium changes, either abruptly or gradually. Thus, changing the material distribution of the optical element changes the optical behavior of the optical element. An advantage of the employed optical element is that its material distribution is controllable. By driving the beam manipulation member and the comprised optical element with appropriate signals, the optical element is deformed which in turn changes the optical behavior of the beam manipulation member. In other words, the beam manipulation member realizes a mapping of the drive signal(s) to its optical behavior. The drive signals for the beam manipulation member come from the optical tweezers system. Thus, the optical tweezers system is provided control over the beam manipulation action. In this context, it is to be noted that also a seemingly independent controller generating the drive signals shall understood as being a part of the optical tweezers system. The reason is that controlling the position of e.g. a particle is a fundamental function of an optical tweezers system.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the beam manipulation member further comprises a chamber containing a first medium, a second medium, an interface between the first medium and the second medium, and interface control means, wherein one of the first medium and the second medium acts as said optical element.
The chamber typically has a constant volume. Also the volumes of the first medium and the second medium are typically constant. The first and the second medium are for example two immiscible fluids having different optical properties. If both fluids have about the same density, then the gravity has no substantial influence on the operation of the beam manipulation member. An interface exists between the two mediums, the shape of which depends on several factors, such as the surface tension, the wettability, or a capillary effect of each of the two mediums. It is advantageous that the interface can be influenced by means of interface control means, resulting in e.g. a modified shape, position, or orientation of the interface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the interface is delimited by one or more edge segments, and the interface control means are arranged to individually act on said edge elements.
In the case of the interface being delimited by a single edge segment, the interface is acted upon in a uniform manner from all sides. An example for such an arrangement with a single edge segment is a circular interface or an elliptical interface. When there is only a single edge, a substantially symmetric deformation of the optical element with respect to a center of gravity of the latter can be expected. In the more general case of a plurality of edge segments, each of which being individually controllable by the interface control means, a more flexible configuration of the interface can be obtained. In particular, also asymmetrical shapes of the interface are possible. The concept of symmetry may either refer to rotational symmetry (for example with respect to the optical axis of the optical element when at rest), or to mirror symmetry depending on the interface shape. The ability to control edge segments individually gives additional degrees of freedom in the plane perpendicular to the resting state optical axis of the optical element.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the beam manipulation member comprises an electro-wetting lens and the interface control means comprises electrodes arranged to supply an individual voltage to each of the edge segments.
An electro-wetting lens exploits the fact that a conductive fluid and a non-conducting fluid react differently when exposed to an electric field. Especially the surfaces that are in contact with the walls of the chamber tend to react to an applied electric field, because of a modified wettability of the chamber wall surfaces. The required electric field is produced by the electrodes that are part of the interface control means. Besides the one or more electrodes corresponding to the one or more edge segments, a ground electrode is provided as a common electric ground. This ground electrode may have the same distance to each of the edge segment electrodes. It may even be in contact with the conducting fluid. In the case of several electrodes each having a different potential, the resulting electric field presents transitions between the electrodes. Typically, smooth transitions between the different edge segments are desired. This can be achieved by keeping the electrodes small and providing an electrically resistive path between two neighbor electrodes. Depending on the resistance of this path, a current will flow from one electrode to the other which causes a voltage drop along the path. If a smooth transition is not desired in order to obtain special interface shapes, the electrodes are placed substantially adjacent one to the other with only a small insulation between them to avoid leak currents and sparkovers.
According to another aspect of the present application, the optical element presents an optical axis and is deformable asymmetrically with respect to the optical axis, and the interface control means are arranged to act asymmetrically on the edge segments in a time-varying manner.
An advantage of the optical element being asymmetrically deformable with respect to the optical axis is that in this manner the beam may be changed in its cross sectional shape. If the beam is focused, the asymmetrical deformation of the optical element also results in an asymmetrical focal spot. In combination with a time-varying action of the interface control means on the edge segments, the asymmetrical focal spot can be rotated about the beam axis. A particle trapped at the focal spot of the beam experiences a torque on account of the asymmetrical focal spot rotating about the beam axis. Therefore, an advantage is that a particle can be brought into rotation by the laser beam. To this end, the edge segment electrodes may be actuated in a circular pattern. This effect is difficult to accomplish by means of all-mechanical beam manipulation means, because a special lens, such as an anamorphic lens (different lens curvatures along the two principal axis directions), must be rotated about its optical axis by means of an electro motor, for example. The optical axis of the optical element is defined for the situation in which the optical element is at rest, that is none of the electrodes applying an electrical field. Indeed, the actual optical axis of the optical element may be variable. Furthermore, the optical axis of the optical element may present a bend, indicating that the beam's propagation direction is changed by the optical element.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the interface control means are arranged to act on the interface in a periodic time pattern.
An advantage of providing a periodic time pattern is that, in combination with applying a torque to the particle by rotating an asymmetrical focal spot of the laser beam, the torque can be supplied in a permanent manner. This can be exploited to operate miniaturized rotational machines, such as pumps, valves, centrifuges and the like in a variety of applications. A periodic time pattern also allows for an oscillating movement of the focal spot of the laser beam. It is also possible to take a sample, such as a particle, bacterium etc., on a roundtrip including several sites. At each site, the sample undergoes a specific test, for example testing its the sample's reaction to certain substances. The ability of an optical tweezers system to measure forces in the nano-Newton and μ-Newton range may be used to measure attraction forces between the sample and a given substance. The beam manipulation member of the present invention may be used to pick up a sample at a first location on a sample carrier, transport it to a plurality of test sites, and finally transport it to a drop off location. Thereafter, the focal spot returns to the first location. Grabbing and releasing the sample may be accomplished by shortly switching off and on the laser beam. Other alternatives may be envisioned, such as displacing the focal spot beneath the sample carrier, causing the sample to come to rest on the sample carrier.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a beam manipulation member for use in an optical tweezers system comprises at least one optical element comprising material having a controllable refractive index.
In this manner, optical properties of the beam manipulation member may be modified by changing the refractive index of a material that is a contained within the optical element. Since a number of the optical properties of an optical element depend on the refractive index of the material that substantially forms the optical element, those optical properties may be influenced by adjusting or changing the refractive index. The optical properties may be for example the focal length of a lens, the angle of deflection of a prism, or the like. No moving parts are necessary for changing the refractive index of the material so that a high switching velocity is possible. Most of the properties and advantages recited for the beam manipulation member having a controllably deformable optical element are also valid for the beam manipulation member featuring material having a controllable refractive index.
According to a related embodiment of the present invention, the material is a liquid crystal material. A liquid crystal contains liquid crystalline molecules that alter their optical properties in the presence or absence of an electric field. In order to form the lens with the desired optical properties, the liquid crystal molecules need to be directed in a specific orientation. Well-known materials to induce this orientation are polyimides. International application publications WO 2004/059350 and WO 2005/076069 describe a component comprising liquid crystal and possible applications. Accordingly, a lens that forms the optical element or a part thereof may comprise two transparent substrates that have concave surfaces provided with respective transparent electrode and orientation layers. The concave surfaces define a cell volume that is filled with liquid crystal molecules which have a negative anisotropy of index of refraction. The liquid crystal thus has an elliptic index of refraction that satisfies the following conditions: ne<nox, ne<noz, where ne is an index of refraction of an extraordinary ray, nox is an index of refraction of an ordinary ray polarized in the X-direction, and noz is an index of refraction of an ordinary ray polarized in the Z-direction. For most liquid crystals, the index of refraction actually satisfies the following condition as well: nox=noz=no, where no is a polarization independent index of refraction of an ordinary ray. The orientation films may be arranged so that the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in parallel with the respective orientation film. However, when an AC or DC voltage is provided between the two electrodes, the orientation of liquid crystal molecules can be tilted 90° and an effective index of refraction neff relative to light impinging the lens is then lowered in accordance with the following equation: neff=(ne+no)/2. Due to this reduction of the index of refraction, the refracting power of the optical element diminishes and the lens thereby increases its focal length. Moreover, by controlling the voltage using a variable resistor, the focal length can be continuously varied. In effect, the lens exhibits a variable focal length.
According to a related embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal material is birefringent and the optical element comprises electrodes. Birefringence denotes the presence of different refractive indices for the two polarization components of a beam of light. Birefringent materials have an extraordinary refractive index (ne) and an ordinary refractive index (no), with the difference between the refractive indices being Δn=ne−no. In other words, a birefringent lens discriminates itself from a standard lens in that it has two focal points, each of these focal points selectable by the polarization direction of the light. The continuous switching principle of a LC-lens is based on modulation of the refractive index of the liquid crystal medium by reorientation of the liquid crystal molecules induced by an electric field. Birefringence may be exploited in polarization sensitive lenses (PS-lenses). PS-lenses may be used to provide different focal points for a single or different wavelength(s) by ensuring that the same or different wavelengths are incident upon the lens with different polarizations.
According to a further embodiment, the optical element comprises two segments of layers of liquid crystal material and corresponding electrodes. The two segments are stacked perpendicular to each other. In this manner, the beam manipulation member is made insensitive to the polarization direction. This can be achieved in particular by using directors that are perpendicularly stacked. In this situation, unpolarized light can be used since all polarization components of the light are subsequently influenced by a difference in refractive index between the liquid crystal and the isotropic medium.
In a further embodiment, the electrodes are controllable in an individual manner. Especially in an embodiment that comprises a number of electrodes arranged for example at the perimeter of the liquid crystal material, a different refractive index for different regions of the liquid crystal material may be achieved. This may be exploited in order to obtain an asymmetric lens. Applications for an asymmetric lens are described above for the case of a controllably deformable optical element.
In a further embodiment, the electrodes are controllable in a time-varying manner and/or periodic manner. This may be used to move a particle trapped by the optical tweezers system. Another application is to exert a torque on the particle in order to cause a rotation of the particle. Again, further applications and characteristics of electrodes that are controllable in a time-varying manner are also described above in the context of a beam manipulation member comprising a controllably deformable optical element.
The beam manipulation member comprising a controllably deformable optical element and the beam manipulation member comprising an optical element having a controllable refractive index have in common that they do not require mechanical actuators. They may therefore be commonly regarded as beam manipulation members having means for controllable redirection of light rays. In the special case of refractive elements, they may also be commonly regarded as beam manipulation members comprising optical elements having controllable refractive power.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an optical tweezers system comprises a beam manipulation member as described above.
The optical tweezers systems benefits from the beam manipulation member's ability to change the direction and the focal distance of the laser beam without a need for mechanical elements. The beam manipulation member may perform all the basic beam control functions required in an optical tweezers system. Among these basic functions are adjusting the focal distance and moving the focal spot in the x-y-plane, which is the plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis an objective of the optical tweezers system. Nevertheless, certain functions may still be performed by mechanical elements. Furthermore, it may be contemplated to use two or more beam manipulation members according to the present invention, each assuming a particular function. A possible separation of functions may be that one beam manipulation member provides a focal distance adjustment, a second beam manipulation member assumes deflection in the x-y-plane, and a third beam manipulation member assumes the function of rendering the focal spot asymmetrical and rotating it in time. Another advantage of the proposed optical tweezers system is that the beam manipulation members or less susceptible to wear than known mechanical systems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of manipulating a laser beam of an optical tweezers system, the optical tweezers system comprising a controllably deformable optical element, comprises a the steps of:
receiving a setpoint signal for manipulation of the laser beam;
calculating at least one drive signal for said optical element by means of a function mapping the setpoint to the drive signal; and
driving the optical element with the signal coming from the optical tweezers system.
An advantage of the proposed method is that it allows controlling the controllably deformable optical element. Such control may be provided in an open loop (i.e. no feedback) or a closed loop (i.e. with feedback). In most cases, a setpoint signal corresponds to a parameter of the laser beam that a user wishes to realize (e.g. direction of the laser beam, focal distance of the laser beam, symmetry/asymmetry of the laser beam). The deformable optical element is one of the components that are used to translate the setpoint signal into a corresponding effect. As such, the optical element has a given transfer function, mapping an input signal to an output effect. In this example, the setpoint signal (or a signal derived from the setpoint signal) serves as an input for the deformable optical element. The input for the optical element may also be regarded as the optical element's drive signal. The output effect of the optical element may be regarded as the action on a laser beam passing through the optical element. The relation between input and output is often described by means of a transfer function. This transfer function defines the dependency of the output on the input, for example. If a certain output is desired, the transfer function may be resolved for the input in order to find the corresponding input. The calculated input is then used as the driving signal for the optical element. Since the deformable optical element is hardly subject to wear, the transfer function remains substantially constant over the lifetime of the optical element. Furthermore, the deformable optical element typically presents improved tolerances compared to its mechanical counterparts. Since tolerances are difficult to deal with in a transfer function and the resolution thereof, the transfer function of the deformable optical element may be less complicated and easier to resolve than those of mechanically controlled optical elements or arrangements.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the setpoint defines a localization of a focal spot of the laser beam. The function comprises a mapping of the drive signal to at least one parameter defining a deformation of the controllably deformable optical element, a mapping of the deformation to at least one optical characteristic of the optical element, and a mapping of the optical characteristic to at least one parameter of the laser beam.
The optical element may be modeled as a system comprising a number of subsystems. A first subsystem describes how the drive signal influences the deformation of the optical element. The behavior of this subsystem depends on the type of drive signal and the exploited physical effect. For example, the drive signal may be an input voltage and the subsystem's output the radii of curvature of a meniscus in a lens based on the electro-wetting principle. A second subsystem describes the relation between the deformation and optical characteristics of the optical element. An example of an optical characteristic of the optical element is the focal length of a lens. A third subsystem describes the relation between the optical characteristics of the optical element and at least one parameter of the laser beam. Examples of laser beam parameters are for example the angle of beam spread or its propagation direction.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of manipulating a laser beam of an optical tweezers system comprises an optical element comprising a material having a controllable refractive index, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a setpoint signal for a manipulation of the laser beam;
calculating at least one drive signal for the optical element by means of a function mapping the setpoint to the drive signal;
driving the optical element with the signal coming from the optical tweezers system.
An advantage of the proposed method is that it allows controlling the optical element comprising a material having a controllable refractive index. Such control may be provided in an open loop (i.e. no feedback) or a closed loop (i.e. with feedback). In most cases, a setpoint signal corresponds to a parameter of the laser beam that a user wishes to realize (e.g. direction of the laser beam, focal distance of the laser beam, symmetry/asymmetry of the laser beam). The optical element is one of the components that are used to translate the setpoint signal into a corresponding effect. As such, the optical element has a given transfer function, mapping an input signal to an output effect. In this example, the setpoint signal (or a signal derived from the setpoint signal) serves as an input for the optical element. The input for the optical element may also be regarded as the optical element's drive signal. The output effect of the optical element may be regarded as the action on a laser beam passing through the optical element. The relation between input and output is often described by means of a transfer function. This transfer function defines the dependency of the output on the input, for example. If a certain output is desired, the transfer function may be resolved for the input in order to find the corresponding input. The calculated input is then used as the driving signal for the optical element. Since the optical element is hardly subject to wear, the transfer function remains substantially constant over the lifetime of the optical element. Furthermore, the optical element typically presents improved tolerances compared to its mechanical counterparts. Since tolerances are difficult to deal with in a transfer function and the resolution thereof, the transfer function of the deformable optical element may be less complicated and easier to resolve than those of mechanically controlled optical elements or arrangements.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the setpoint defines a localization of a focal spot of the laser beam, wherein the function comprises a mapping of the signal to at least one parameter defining a value of refractive index of the material, a mapping of the refractive index to at least one optical characteristic of the optical element, and a mapping of the optical characteristic to at least one parameter of the laser beam.
The optical element may be modeled as a system comprising a number of subsystems. A first subsystem describes how the drive signal influences the refractive index of the material within the optical element. The behavior of this subsystem depends on the type of drive signal and the exploited physical effect. For example, the drive signal may be an input voltage and the subsystem's output the refractive index of the material within the optical element. A second subsystem describes the relation between the refractive index and optical characteristics of the optical element. An example of an optical characteristic of the optical element is the focal length of a lens. A third subsystem describes the relation between the optical characteristics of the optical element and at least one parameter of the laser beam.
Examples of laser beam parameters are for example the angle of beam spread or its propagation direction.
An optical tweezers system benefits from employing a controllably deformable optical element as a part of the beam manipulation assembly. The same results can be expected as with conventional, mechanically displaced or oriented elements. Drawbacks of these conventional mechanical components are circumvented. Furthermore, the deformable optical element offers a greater flexibility for the beam manipulation.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
The figures are not drawn to scale and identical reference numerals in different Figures refer to corresponding elements.
To this end, a known optical tweezers system comprises the following components. The optical tweezers system 100 presents a laser beam path 104 and an observation light path 106. A laser source 110 produces a laser beam which passes a shutter 112 for conveniently switching on and off the laser beam. A beam expander 114 provides a defined beam diameter. In the depicted optical tweezers system, a variable attenuator for bright and polarized laser light comprises a rotatable halfwave plate 116 and a fixed prism polarizer 118. A beam steerer consists of two movable mirrors 122 and 124, both mounted on a same vertical post. Note that mirror 122 and also the light path back to the laser source is actually perpendicular to mirror 124 about the vertical axis. For convenience, it is drawn here in the same plane.
Further down the path of the laser beam, a simple 1:1 telescope arrangement that is used to steer and parfocalize the laser spot comprises a fixed lens 128 and a moveable lens 126. These two identical planconvex lenses 126 and 128 are placed the sum of their focal lengths apart, so that parallel light entering moveable lens 126 from will produce parallel light emerging from fixed lens 128 of the same beam diameter. The moveable lens 126 is mounted on an x-y-z translation stage or micromanipulator. Movements of this lens in all three directions approximately generate corresponding movements of the laser focal spot in the same three dimensions. For a movement of the focal spot in the axial direction (z-direction), lens 126 is pushed towards lens 128. This causes the laser beam to become slightly divergent when leaving the second lens 128. This pushes the focal spot away from the objective and deeper into the specimen. Likewise, as lens 126 is pulled away from lens 128, the laser beam leaving the telescope to the left of lens 128 becomes somewhat convergent, bringing the focus towards the objective. Movement of lens 126 in the x-y plane, perpendicular to the optical axis, produces a deflection in the light leaving the lens 128, which is basically a rotation of the beam. If lens 128 is imaged into the back of the objective pupil, then this rotation occurs in a conjugate plane to the objective pupil, resulting in a translation of the laser spot. Lens 128 accomplishes this by virtue of its location at a distance 2f behind the objective pupil, where f is the focal length of lenses 126 and 128.
A dichroic mirror 132 reflects the appropriate laser wavelength, usually ˜1100 nm or ˜850 nm. The dichroic mirror 132 transmits visible light below 650 nm. This directs the laser beam towards a microscope objective 142. Since visible light may pass the dichroic mirror, the scene may be observed via observation path 106 using standard microscope components. As an additional safety measure, an infrared blocking filter 134 is provided between dichroic mirror 132 and an observer.
The standard microscope objective 142 accomplishes the major amount of focusing the laser beam. The objective is typically a high NA objective, having a magnification between 40× and 100×, a NA between 1.25 and 1.40, and being designed for oil- or water immersion. The microscope objective comprises a rear focus lens 144 and a front lens 148. The objective may contain aberration correction means that are not depicted for sake of simplicity.
The objects to be trapped are disposed on a sample carrier 152.
In case the object is to be rotated around the laser beam axis, optical tweezers system 100 requires further means, such as an anamorphic lens and a motor or equivalent to rotate the anamorphic lens at the desired rotation speed. The anamorphic lens produces an asymmetric focal spot. Rotating the lens also rotates the focal spot, and thus the object. An alternative is to use a special grating, a so-called helical phase profile, which converts a TEM00 laser beam (the fundamental mode of wave propagation for a laser beam) in a helical mode. However, this method has the drawback that the rotation speed cannot be easily changed.
The electrowetting lens also comprises a base electrode 312 and a wall electrode 316. The base electrode 312 is formed as a ring with an outer rim. It is located at the transition between the container base 302 and the container wall 306. Furthermore, the base electrode 312 extends from the exterior to the interior of the container by means of appropriate passages between the container base 302 and the container wall 306. To the right of the base electrode 302 is depicted a connecting terminal through which a voltage is impressed on the base electrode. The wall electrode 316 surrounds container wall 306 with the exception of a portion adjacent to the container base 302. Here, the wall electrode 316 is represented as two concentric cylinders that are connected by a ring at their respective upper edges. Notwithstanding, for example the outer cylinder could be dispensed with, if a satisfactory even voltage distribution across the entire electrode can be achieved even for fast changing voltages. A connecting terminal is represented at the right side of the wall electrode 316 in the vicinity of the connecting terminal for the base electrode 312.
An insulator 322 is located in the opening defined by the interior cylinder of wall electrode 316. Furthermore, a hydrophobic coating 324 is provided lining the interior of the container at the top and the side of the cavity, but not at the bottom.
The cavity formed by the container, the electrodes, the insulator and the hydrophobic coating is filled with two immiscible fluids. The first fluid 332 is electrically conducting and may be for example salted water. The second fluid is insulating and may be for example some kind of oil. The water-based first fluid typically has a refractive index of about 1.33, while the refractive index of the second fluid can be chosen as high as 1.6 by employing appropriate oil. The bigger the difference of the refractive indexes, the more efficient the resulting electrowetting lens is. By matching the density of both fluids, the lens becomes stable against shocks and vibrations. It also becomes independent from the orientation in which it is used. Since the first fluid consists mainly of water, the hydrophobic coating 324 on the interior top and side walls of the cavity acts on the first fluid by repelling it. As a result, the first fluid tends to minimize its contact surface with the hydrophobic coating 324. This behavior results in a curved interface between the two fluids. The interface is also called meniscus and acts as a spherical lens. Since the oil 334 has a higher refractive index than the water solution 332, the optical effect of the electrowetting lens is comparable to a divergent lens, as can be seen from the diverging rays of light passing the lens from top to bottom.
In
It should be noted that the view field for the observer is also changed as the electrowetting lens changes its focal distance and deflection direction. A user who is familiar with state of the art optical tweezers systems might need some time to familiarize with this mode of operation. However, it should be appreciated that the focal spot will always be in the center of the observer's view field. As an orientation for the observer, the sample carrier 152 from
In the alternative, an electrowetting lens could be located at a point, at which the laser beam path 104 and the normal microscope light path 106 (
Furthermore, it is also possible to provide two or more electrowetting lenses. One of the electrowetting lenses would then be used to adjust the focal length of the optical tweezers system, while one or more other electrowetting lenses provide the beam deflection.
The laser beam 762 presents a laser beam axis 766. The angle between the optical axis of the front lens and the laser beam axis is denoted by Θ (capital THETA). The laser beam 762 is focused to a focal spot 764. The z-coordinate of the focal spot is given by the resulting focus length of the optical tweezers system fr. The focal spot of a lens displaces in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, if the direction of the incident light changes.
One of the ways to determine the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate of the focal spot computationally is to calculate the intersection point of laser beam axis 766 with the focal plane. Since the z-coordinate is already known as the resulting focal length fr, only the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate need to be determined. Under normal circumstances, the x-, y-, and z-coordinates are pre-selected and it is up to the optical tweezers system to direct the focal spot to this position. Accordingly, the inverse calculations have to be performed in order to arrive at the corresponding values for fr, Φ (PHI), and Θ (THETA). The appropriate electrode signals may then be calculated from these values. Use of one or several look-up tables would also be an option.
These lenses can also be made insensitive to the polarization direction. To this end, a second segment containing another switchable liquid crystal layer may be used. This second switchable liquid crystal layer comprises directors that are perpendicularly stacked. In this situation unpolarized light can be used since all polarization components of the light are subsequently influenced by a difference in refractive index between the liquid crystal and the isotropic medium.
Although one of the systems described herein is based on electrowetting, the same principle also applies for a system based on magnetowetting, hence a system which contains two fluids, one of which is a ferrofluid, and where the shape of the meniscus is changed by a magnetic field. A detailed discussion can be found in European patent application no. EP 04102437.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06115018.1 | Jun 2006 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2007/051771 | 5/10/2007 | WO | 00 | 12/4/2008 |
