Creation of uniform three-dimensional optical chain through tight focusing of space-variant polarized beams

We propose a systematic approach to create a three-dimensional interconnected optical bubble array (optical chain) in the focal volume of a high numerical-aperture objective. Radiation from electric and magnetic dipoles are introduced to interpret the focusing characteristics of radially and azimuthally polarized light. Utilizing the connections between the highly focused vector beams and reversed radiation from dipole sources, a three-dimensional optical chain can be constructed and manipulated with optimized structure through a reversing field radiated from an electric–magnetic dipole array. A four-bubble chain is illustrated and discussed as an example. This dipolar-shaped focus field may find applications in multiple-particle trapping, delivering and assembly.