Abstract

An optically trapped particle in vacuum is an ideal system for investigating quantum effects in a mechanical system. We develop a system to levitate, optically trap and rotate microparticles in vacuum, and investigate the intricate dynamics of such trapped microparticles. We explore how the terminal velocity of rotation or viscosity varies as a function of background pressure. We show evidence of coupling between the rotational and translational degrees of freedom of the trapped object offering new perspectives on particle dynamics.

© 2012 Optical Society of America