Abstract

Since the light is essentially non-contact and non-destructive, single laser beam optical trapping¹ is expected to be a new method for physically manipulating single biological cells in experimental cell biology and relevant fields. Up to now, however, only a TEM₀₀ fundamental mode laser beam (Gaussian beam) has been used for the optical trapping of biological cells because strong focusing the laser beam is required.^1,2

© 1991 Optical Society of America