CLEO/QELS is presented by:
Short Courses
NEW! SC317 Laser Tweezers: Moving Tiny Things with Light
Tuesday, May 6, 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Kristian Helmerson; NIST, USA
Level: Beginner (no background or minimal training is necessary to understand course material)
Course Description Most of us are familiar with the idea that light carries energy. What is perhaps less well known is that light also carries momentum. Over the past couple of decades, researchers have learned to harness the momentum of light to generate forces for various applications. One application is the laser cooling and trapping of atoms. Another important application is the trapping and manipulation of objects in the sub-micron and micron range. In particular, highly focused laser beams can be used to trap and remotely manipulate objects such as microspheres, DNA, cells and sub-cellular components, which has led to the name "optical tweezers" for such devices. This course will cover the basic physics behind optical tweezers, the technology for setting up such devices and the application of optical tweezers, especially in the fields of biophysics, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Benefits and Learning Objectives This course should enable you to:
Intended Audience This course is intended for anyone with an interest in application of optical forces for biophysics and biotechnology.
Instructor Biography Kristian Helmerson received his doctorate in physics from the MIT in 1991. He is a staff scientist in the laser cooling and trapping group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. His current research interests include applications of optical tweezers for single biomolecules studies and biotechnology, as well as fundamental studies of quantum degenerate atomic gases. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of the Silver Medal from the Department of Commerce.
