Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Researchers Create Real Tractor Beams

Posted by timothy on from the rebels-will-be-crushed dept.

Gadgetank writes "Researchers out of the Australian National University have created a device, working in conjunction with other necessary devices, that can literally move small particles with light. And only light. The way it works is by shining a hollow laser beam around some tiny glass particles. The researchers heat the air around the particles, and therefore cause the dark center of the beam to remain cool."

4 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. not a real tractor beam by D3 · · Score: 5, Informative

    They use this to PUSH particles around, not PULL them.

    --
    Do really dense people warp space more than others?
    1. Re:not a real tractor beam by LanMan04 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Quoth wikipedia (from the "Optical Tweezers" article:

      Optical tweezers (originally called "single-beam gradient force trap") is a scientific instrument that uses a highly focused laser beam to provide an attractive or repulsive force (typically on the order of piconewtons), depending on the refractive index mismatch to physically hold and move microscopic dielectric objects. Optical tweezers have been particularly successful in studying a variety of biological systems in recent years.
      --------
      So does that mean this new method works on a different principle?

      --
      With the first link, the chain is forged.
  2. Echolocation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "seems like only yesterday..."
    http://science.slashdot.org/story/10/09/08/1558201/Tractor-Beams-Come-To-Life

  3. Not terribly novel by toppavak · · Score: 3, Informative

    Mechanical forces exerted on objects by light have been described since the 1970's and practically demonstrated since 1986.