Proposed method for highly selective resonant optical manipulation using counter-propagating light waves

Optical manipulation using electronic resonance can realize the selective manipulation of nano objects exhibiting quantum mechanical properties by confining electronic systems based on the characteristics of individual objects. This study theoretically proposes a method to actualize selective manipulation based on the resonant optical response. In this method, counter-propagating light waves are used to extract the pure contribution of the resonant optical response in the exerted force by regulating the balance between the two light waves. Furthermore, the selection of nanoparticles with particular resonance levels at room temperature and quantum dots with a particular size in the cryogenic condition is numerically demonstrated. An especially interesting aspect of this method is that it enables the examination of the absorption spectrum of a single nanoparticle by mapping the absorption efficiency to its mechanical motion. The results reveal an unconventional link between optical force technology and nanomaterials science.