ROTATIONAL MOTION OF AN EXFOLIATED FLUOROHECTORITE IN WATER BY ILLUMINATION OF A CIRCULAR POLARIZED LASER BEAM

Abstract

Optically induced rotation of an exfoliated fluorohectorite (FHT) in colloidal dispersion has been demonstrated. By illuminating a tightly focused circularly polarized laser beam of which power was higher than 5 mW with the wavelength at 532 nm, FHT with the in-plane area of 100 µm² was rotated. While the rotational motion, FHT was optically trapped with maintaining its center of gravity position at the focal point. As the illuminated laser power increased, the rotation speed accelerated. The direction of rotation of the FHT could be switched by alternating the handedness of polarized light.