Laser opto-microactuators rotated by molecular gas dynamics effects

Summary form only given. Laser opto-microactuators are discussed in this study. The actuators are rotated by the effects of molecular gas dynamics such as the forces by a thermal creep force and a radiometric force. The effects are induced by heating of the rotor surface of the actuators with a laser beam. It is elucidated that the maximum torque of the actuators occurs at the Knudsen number of about 0.2 and the maximum rotational rate of the actuators is at the Knudsen number of 0.5. The Knudsen number is defined as the ratio of the mean free path length of the gas in the chamber to the rotor blade length of the actuators.