Horizontal observation of laser-trapped dielectric particles

In this presentation we study the position and/or behavior of polystyrene spheres at the equilibrium position trapped by a Nd:YAG laser. First, we have constructed a trapping system to observe horizontally the particle trapped very close to the focus of the trapping beam. Experimental trapping position along the optical axis, as a function of laser power, showed good qualitative agreement with the theoretical curve calculated by the model of Wright et al., which describes the Gaussian mode beam in terms of both wave and ray optics.