Controlled Light-Driven Levitation of Macroscopic Plates

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Photophoretic or light-driven levitation has been studied extensively in the context of the motion of illuminated micron-sized particles, such as dust grains in the atmosphere under sunlight [1,2], and in relation to Crooks radiometers [3]. When heated by incident light, a micron-sized particle experiences a temperature gradient that in turn results in uneven gas-surface interactions and a net propulsive force [4]. Though thoroughly investigated for micron-sized particles, this phenomenon has rarely been studied to controllably levitate macroscopic objects. We report light-driven levitation of 0.5-um thick mylar samples that have been modified by depositing a 300-nm-thick layer of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a single side. The CNT layer serves three key purposes: 1) It acts as a lightweight light absorber, absorbing ~ 90% of the incident light and elevating the temperature of the sample. 2) It increases the structural rigidity of the mylar film, allowing cm-scale discs with submicron thicknesses to hold their shape. 3) It creates a structured porous surface that traps impinging gas molecules, which results in an accommodation coefficient difference between the top and bottom surfaces for gas-surface interactions. Air molecules that rebound from the CNT-coated side have on average higher velocities than those departing from the opposing uncoated mylar surface. We show that the net force thus created can be used to levitate the mylar films. Moreover, we will demonstrate our ability to manipulate a light field in order to control the flight of levitating samples for extended periods of time.