Optimizing light pattern curvature to improve the performance of optoelectronic tweezers in micromanipulation

Optical micromanipulation—including techniques that use light to trap and manipulate microscopic objects—was revolutionized by Arthur Ashkin’s invention of the optical tweezer in the 1980s. Optical tweezers rely on gradient and scattering forces from a tightly focused laser beam to control micro‑objects; while highly effective in controlled settings, they face limitations when handling targets of varying size, shape, or refractive index, and their high‑intensity beams can damage sensitive biological samples (e.g., cells).