Influence of off-focus and off-axis distances on trapping of a Rayleigh particle

Abstract

The influence of the off-focus and off-axis distances on trapping of a metallic particle is investigated theoretically using vector diffraction and dipole approximation. Numerical results show that when the off-focus and off-axis distances of a metallic Rayleigh particle are smaller, typically smaller than 0.5[Formula: see text], the particle can be three-dimensionally trapped to the focus by a highly focused real radially polarized beam. However, when the off-focus and off-axis distances are large, the particle can not be three-dimensionally trapped to the focus but it may be trapped to an annular region. The dependence of the trapping stability and trapping stiffness on the off-focus and off-axis distances are calculated. The effect of the beam parameter (the ratio of the radius of the lens to the beam waist) of the radially polarized light on optical trap is discussed.