APPARATUS AND PROCESSES FOR LASER DEFORMATION OF DIELECTRIC PARTICLES

摘要

Apparatus and processes for laser deformation of dielectric particles are disclosed. In one implementation, a determination is made as to whether a particle is trapped between two or more sources of laser light. Deformation of a particle under the laser light is also determined, and the laser sources may be adjusted to vary the power of the laser light to both trap a particle and stretch the particle. Deformation of a particle may be controlled by exposing the particle to two or more counterpropagating laser beams at an intensity and under conditions effective to deform the particle, and measuring its deformation. An optical micromanipulation tool, also referred to as an optical stretcher, may thus use a tunable laser to trap and deform cells between two counterpropagating beams generated by the laser. One possible application of embodiments of the present invention is to detect the deformation of cancer cells.