Dynamics of multiple trapping by a single-beam laser tweezer.

A multiple-trap single-beam scanning laser tweezer system was developed and characterized. Different stationary and mobile multiple-trap modes were generated for polystyrene beads in a water environment. Trapping efficiency and stability were investigated for several dynamic parameters such as transition time between the sites, waiting time on a single site, number of trapping sites, and IR laser power. Optimal parameters for efficient generation of complex arrays and matrices were determined. We demonstrate an example of a single laser beam multiple-trap application by measuring the trap's stiffness in water for our laser tweezer setup.