Radiation force and torque exerted by linearly polarized plane waves on graded-index dielectric spheres.

We propose and theoretically demonstrate, through numerical simulations, a model for a dielectric microsphere capable of being manipulated translationally and rotationally by linearly polarized plane electromagnetic waves. By the use of realistic material parameters and finite-element-method simulations of the Maxwell stress tensor, we illustrate how transverse radiation forces and radiation torques could be applied to the spherical particle through a proper control of the frequency and polarization direction of the incident linearly polarized plane wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]