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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."

8 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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    Do really dense people warp space more than others?
    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.
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      So does that mean this new method works on a different principle?

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      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

    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...

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      Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.