Non-intuitive Computational Optimization of Illumination Patterns for Maximum Optical Force and Torque

This paper aims to maximize optical force and torque on arbitrary micro- and nano-scale objects using numerically optimized structured illumination. By developing a numerical framework for computer-automated design of 3d vector-field illumination, we demonstrate a 20-fold enhancement in optical torq...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Lee, Yoonkyung E, Miller, Owen D, Homer Reid, M T, Johnson, Steven G, Fang, Nicholas X
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 26.01.2017
Subjects
Algorithms
Boundary element method
Circular polarization
Computation
Freeware
Illumination
Local optimization
Mathematical models
Nonlinear programming
Plane waves
Robustness (mathematics)
Source code
Torque
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Summary:This paper aims to maximize optical force and torque on arbitrary micro- and nano-scale objects using numerically optimized structured illumination. By developing a numerical framework for computer-automated design of 3d vector-field illumination, we demonstrate a 20-fold enhancement in optical torque per intensity over circularly polarized plane wave on a model plasmonic particle. The nonconvex optimization is efficiently performed by combining a compact cylindrical Bessel basis representation with a fast boundary element method and a standard derivative-free, local optimization algorithm. We analyze the optimization results for 2000 random initial configurations, discuss the tradeoff between robustness and enhancement, and compare the different effects of multipolar plasmon resonances on enhancing force and torque. All results are obtained using open-source computational software available online.
ISSN:2331-8422