This is a blog compiling the latest physics news from the American Physical Society. News sources include lay summaries of Physical Review papers written by the papers' authors, APS Physics Tip Sheets from APS staff, and previews of talks from the Society's meetings.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Tractor Beam Conveyor Belt for Tiny Particles
LV13165 - A tractor beam is a traveling wave that can transport illuminated material along its length back to its source. Here, we demonstrate one-sided optical conveyors that act as tractor beams without requiring outside assistance. The same technique we use to project a single optical conveyor also can project arrays of optical conveyors each with independently controlled transport properties.
