Fig. 2: Types of optofluidic barriers.
From: Three-dimensional optofluidic control using reconfigurable thermal barriers
Experimental images (top) of heat-induced barriers with particle trajectories (dp = 5 μm, white lines) sedimenting downwards at vg = 12.7 μm s−1, accompanied by three-dimensional sketches of the equivalent microfluidic actuators (insets). Simulated temperature profiles (bottom) of the barriers with particle trajectories (white). a, A steerer, created by a single barrier tilted at –45°, deflects particles to the right, similar to the effect of a tilted microfluidic channel. b, A splitter, created by two tilted barriers, evenly divides the particle flow into two, resembling a Y-shaped microfluidic channel with two outlets. c, A merger directs particles to converge at the centre, akin to a narrowing channel. d, A U-shaped barrier traps a particle entering from the top, confining it from both sides to a single equilibrium point, similar to micropockets in traditional fluidic channels. Norm., normalized. Scale bars, 10 μm.
