Computer-generated holographic optical tweezer arrays

Holographic techniques significantly extend the capabilities of laser tweezing, making possible extended trapping patterns for manipulating large numbers of particles and volumes of soft matter. We describe practical methods for creating arbitrary configurations of optical tweezers using computer-generated diffractive optical elements. While the discussion focuses on ways to create planar arrays of identical tweezers, the approach can be generalized to three-dimensional arrangements of heterogeneous tweezers and extended trapping patterns. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.