Optical manipulation and tweezers articles from across Nature Portfolio

A cavity-array microscope is realized using intra-cavity lenses to create a two-dimensional array of over 40 modes, each coupled to a single atom in free-space.

Optical skyrmions can be generated in free space, but topologically protected information transfer requires skyrmions to be stable upon propagation through complex media. Here, authors demonstrate the topological resilience of classical and quantum optical skyrmions transmitted through experimentally simulated atmospheric turbulence.

Upconversion particle-based holographic fluorescence optical tweezers enable super-resolved photonic force microscopy and applications on long-range subfemtonewton force sensing, intracellular viscosity measurements and temperature sensing.

Optical heterostructures have potential in integrated photonics and optoelectronics but are challenging to prepare in single-component systems. Here, the authors report an intrinsic optical heterostructure in an organic nanosheet, with enhanced fluorescence in an inner zone.

Colloidal particles experience capillary interactions at liquid interfaces, but modifying these interactions is challenging as shape change is required. Here, the authors report polymer particles that change shape with polarised light, and therefore create flow patterns with unusual paths.

This work extends optical tweezing, long used to manipulate physical objects, to topological magnetic quasiparticles: skyrmions. A photothermal tweezer traps, transports, creates and annihilates single skyrmions, enabling fully programmable control.

High-purity quantum states, essential for quantum technological applications, were achieved by cooling optically levitated silica nanoparticles.

A photonic force microscope has been developed with a trapped lanthanide-doped crystal detecting forces as small as 110 aN. This opens new prospects for force sensing in the physical sciences.