Cavity optomechanics of levitated nanodumbbells: nonequilibrium phases and self-assembly

Phys Rev Lett. 2013 Apr 5;110(14):143604. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.143604. Epub 2013 Apr 5.

Abstract

Levitated nanospheres in optical cavities open a novel route to study many-body systems out of solution and highly isolated from the environment. We show that properly tuned optical parameters allow for the study of the nonequilibrium dynamics of composite nanoparticles with nonisotropic optical friction. We find optically induced ordering and nematic transitions with nonequilibrium analogs to liquid crystal phases for ensembles of dimers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Kinetics
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nanospheres / chemistry*
  • Optics and Photonics / methods*