Optical trapping and fluorescence excitation with violet diode lasers and extended cavity surface emitting lasers

Violet diode lasers and vertical extended cavity surface emitting lasers are used within an optical trapping system. Two distinct but related studies are performed. Firstly, the optical trapping efficiency in terms of the Q parameter for micron and sub-micron sized particles is determined. Secondly, we use the violet diode laser to observe and fluoresce 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stained chromosomes, green fluorescent protein (GFP) transfected neuroblastomas and fluorescent polymer spheres within an optical tweezers using a 1064nm trap laser. This work paves the way for both reduced trap volumes and for biological tagging, chromosome selection or observing protein dynamics. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.