Micromachines Powered by Light

Chris writes "Hungarian researchers succeed in controlling the rotation of micromachines that are powered by light. They have succeeded in reversing the rotation of a micro-rotor trapped in optical tweezers. The crucial element of this system is an oil-immersed objective lens with a very high numerical aperture. Changing the position of the objective lens controls the direction of rotation. The team now hopes to make complex integrated systems where all the components of a micromechanical system are integrated. This could find applications such as measuring the properties of large biological molecules and making components such as miniature pumps and actuators for lab-on-a-chip devices."

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_THE_ Micromachines?

[torinth]

Chris writes "Hungarian researchers succeed in controlling the rotation of micromachines that are powered by light. They have succeeded in reversing the rotation of a micro-rotor trapped in optical tweezers. The crucial element of this system is an oil-immersed objective lens with a very high numerical aperture. Changing the position of the objective lens controls the direction of rotation. The team now hopes to make complex integrated systems where all the components of a micromechanical system are integrated. This could find applications such as measuring the properties of large biological molecules and making components such as miniature pumps and actuators for lab-on-a-chip devices."

And it only took him .5 seconds to say that.

-Andrew