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Light-induced Forces on Soft Matter 

 

We are broadly interested in research questions related to light-induced forces. We study and innovate on optical, photonic, and optothermal forces and torques. In this process, we explore how these forces can influence light scattering, nanophotonics, Brownian motion and pattern formation. We apply this knowledge to study the dynamics and photonics of soft matter.

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Specifically,  our study addresses questions such as :​

  • How to realize, probe and image soft photonic systems using optically-induced forces? 

    •  role of Optical forces and Torques + thermodynamics, optical momentum  spin and orbital aspects

    • what is the influence of optical degrees of freedom on Brownian dynamics and pattern formation ?

    • how do optical/optothermal forces interact with soft, active and biological matter : colloids, liquid crystals, droplets, bubbles, granular matter, cells etc.  ?

    • what are the technological and biological implications of optical/optothermal force-soft matter interaction ?

Current Projects (inter-related):

  • Brownian Dynamics + structured optical forces

Hot Brownian Colloids - evolutionary optical assembly & emergence
Brownian dynamics – thermo-plasmonic landscape and optical vortices
Fluctuations in light scattering – single molecule among colloids

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  • Pattern Formation and dynamics in optically-driven soft-systems

plasmon-driven systems - plasmonic colloids

 

  • Optical methods to drive, probe and image soft- and biological-systems

Structured Optical forces and Torques  - optical tweezers
Plasmonics – propagating and localized plasmons
Statistical Optics 

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Publications:

Our publications can be found on following pages:

Facilities:

  • Fourier-plane optical microscopy and spectroscopy in an optical trap (home-built) : based on upright and inverted microscope coupled to dual channel spectrometer, coupled with lasers at 1064nm, 633nm and 532nm wavelength

  • Optical Energy-Momentum Spectroscopy and Microscopy integrated with an optical tweezer (home-built)

  • Two-channel femtosecond light scattering microscope (home-built):Based on Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser, to study nonlinear light scattering in an optical trap

  • Optical tweezer based multi-wavelength confocal spectroscopic imaging microscope (home-built): based on high resolution spectrometry 

  • Computer workstation for photonics and plasmonics simulation FEM methods for plasmonics and photonics; Fourier optics 

  • Nano-fabrication and nano-synthesis facility

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