Optical tweezers

Optical tweezers are a fascinating tool that allows scientists to trap and move tiny objects using light alone. A strongly focused laser beam is used to hold very small particles, such as cells or atoms, in place. When the laser hits the particle, a force acts on it and keeps it trapped at the center of the light beam. By moving the laser beam, the trapped object can be moved precisely without being touched. This is especially important when working with delicate biological samples.

Optical tweezers are widely used in physics, biology, and medicine. They make it possible to study individual cells, stretch DNA molecules, or measure extremely small forces.

Arthur Ashkin received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for, among other things, the invention of optical tweezers. Optical tweezers demonstrate that light is not only useful for seeing or transmitting information but can also exert forces. They are a powerful example of how fundamental research leads to innovative tools.