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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."

14 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.

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    1. Re:not a real tractor beam by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well then they just need to reverse the polarity!

    2. 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?

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      With the first link, the chain is forged.
    3. Re:not a real tractor beam by Bobfrankly1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      So when a deer in the road moves toward me because I shine my headlights down the road, my headlights are a tractor beam?

    4. Re:not a real tractor beam by jandoedel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So when a deer in the road moves toward me because I shine my headlights down the road, my headlights are attractor beam?

      There, fixed it for you.

  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

    1. Re:Echolocation by Intron · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This story is a reflection caused by bouncing the other story from a mirror using hollow laser beams.

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      Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
    2. Re:Echolocation by derGoldstein · · Score: 4, Funny

      Slashdot has become so big that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, and neither hand actually READS Slashdot...

      --
      Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
  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.

  4. In related news by gearloos · · Score: 3, Funny

    John Deere files suit

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    "Computers are a lot like Air Conditioners" "They both work great until you start opening Windows"
  5. Pfft by Adambomb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't work in a vacuum, less space than a nomad. Lame.

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    Ice Cream has no bones.
  6. OMG by future+assassin · · Score: 3, Funny

    It worked so well that moving the particles caused the news about them to be duped http://tech.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=Tractor+Beams They call it the Dupification Effect.

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  7. This has gotten ridiculous... by hedpe2003 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A Slashdot submission... linking to a forum... linking to a new site... linking to a.... Slashdot submission???

    When I think SEO backlinking... I think this.

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    Comprehensive solutions via a competition of ideas like no other.
  8. Re:Tractor beam? Hardly by eln · · Score: 3, Funny

    You can use a repulsor beam like this to bring things within your grasp if it's positioned properly, much like women can increase their own attraction by bringing their much uglier friend with them to the bars. In practical terms, your large gravitational pull is actually counteracted by a natural repulsor beam (also generated by your weight) that keeps women away from you. If this new beam were to be placed directly behind your target, it may be able to successfully counteract your own repulsive field enough to draw the women in, or at least allow them to enter into a stable orbit around you. After that, you just have to turn up the charm and you're golden.