Back-focal-plane position detection with extended linear range for photonic force microscopy

Appl Opt. 2012 Sep 1;51(25):5973-7. doi: 10.1364/AO.51.005973.

Abstract

In photonic force microscopes, the position detection with high temporal and spatial resolution is usually implemented by a quadrant position detector placed in the back focal plane of a condenser. An objective with high numerical aperture (NA) for the optical trap has also been used to focus a detection beam. In that case the displacement of the probe at a fixed position of the detector produces a unique and linear response only in a restricted region of the probe displacement, usually several hundred nanometers. There are specific experiments where the absolute position of the probe is a relevant measure together with the probe position relative the optical trap focus. In our scheme we introduce the detection beam into the condenser with low NA through a pinhole with tunable size. This combination permits us to create a wide detection spot and to achieve the linear range of several micrometers by the probe position detection without reducing the trapping force.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods
  • Microspheres
  • Optical Tweezers*
  • Particle Size