Off-axis optical levitation and transverse spinning of metallic microparticles

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Optical manipulation of metallic microparticles remains a significant challenge because of the strong scattering forces arising from the high extinction coefficient of the particles. This paper reports a new mechanism for stable confinement of metallic microparticles using a tightly focused linearly polarized Gaussian beam. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that metallic microparticles can be captured off the optical axis in such a beam. Meanwhile, the three-dimensionally confined particles are observed spinning transversely as a response to the asymmetric force field. The off-axis levitation and transverse spinning of metallic microparticles may provide a new way for effective manipulation of metallic microparticles.