Near-axial rotation of nanorods by focused laser beams using dual-beam method

Abstract

A dual-beam method for the near-axial rotation of dielectric nanorods was devised. The method uses two laser beams, where a focused Gaussian beam holds the object in the beam axis while a focused Laguerre-Gaussian beam rotates the object. The near-axial rotation of ZnO nanorods using this method was then experimentally demonstrated, and the radial offset distance of the rotating nanorod from the beam axis was quantified via a video tracking method. C (C) 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.3590196]