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+--- Thread: Tractor Beam? (/showthread.php?tid=3837)
Tractor Beam? - Vaktus - 10-28-2018
I found a paper where researchers at the Tel-Aviv university created a helical laser beam that can push and pull carbon particles at 0.5 cm.
https://www.osapublishing.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-5-5-551&id=386023
RE: Tractor Beam? - Drashner1 - 10-28-2018
Interesting
I've heard of 'optical tractor beams' pulling particles toward the beam before (in another article someone linked to here, probably), but this seems like a step up in the control department. I freely admit there were large swathes that were over my head, but I think I got the gist.Todd
RE: Tractor Beam? - Vaktus - 10-28-2018
Definitely interesting, it also seems they can control the velocity of which the particle can be pushed or pulled.
RE: Tractor Beam? - Vaktus - 11-12-2018
I know this thread is kinda dead, but what would be some possible applications of such a thing in OA?
RE: Tractor Beam? - SeanR - 11-12-2018
(11-12-2018, 10:41 AM)Vaktus Wrote: I know this thread is kinda dead, but what would be some possible applications of such a thing in OA?
Fine positioning of elements in a fab.
RE: Tractor Beam? - Rynn - 11-12-2018
Optical tweezers aren't really tractor beams in any sense. They don't scale beyond microscopic samples and require a laser on both sides compared to the usual SF single emitter working on macroscale objects. In OA they could possibly be used in interesting ways for micro-satellites in vacuum, or manufacturing components behind a wake shield.
RE: Tractor Beam? - stevebowers - 11-13-2018
Optical cooling by laser beam is another useful application of this technology. Laser cooling would be everyday technology in 11K.
But it seems necessary to surround the target with a number of emitters (probably at least two) so it wouldn't work like a tractor beam at any significant distance.