Enhancement of transverse trapping efficiency for a metallic particle using an obstructed laser beam

We report that the transverse trapping efficiency for a metallic particle can be enhanced by use of a laser beam obstructed by a circular opaque disk. In the case of gold particles, the enhancement factor for a p- or s-polarized trapping beam is at least 1.7 or 2.5, respectively. The dependence of the transverse trapping efficiency for gold particles (diameter=2 μm) on the size of the obstruction is measured and agrees with the theoretical prediction based on the ray-optics model.

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