Microobject manipulations using laser beams with nonzero orbital angular momentum

Microobject manipulation with a laser is investigated. The functional capabilities of the laser manipulators can be significantly enhanced using beams with predetermined distributions of intensity and angular momentum. Beams with nonzero angular momentum are generated using phase and amplitude-phase masks. Such beams make it possible to rotate weakly absorbing particles and to move them along a given trajectory. Experimental results on the microobject motion along various trajectories (circle, triangle contour, self-intersecting curve, and Archimedes spiral) are presented.