Fluctuation-Mediated Optical Screening of Nanoparticles

Inspired by biological motors, we propose a guiding principle for selectively separating nanoparticles (NPs) by efficiently using the light-induced force (LIF) and thermal fluctuations. We demonstrate the possibility of transporting metallic NPs of different sizes with a size-selection accuracy of less than 10 nm even at room temperature by designing asymmetric spatiotemporal light fields. This technique will lead to unconventional nanoextraction processes based on light and fluctuations.