Modifying the laser beam intensity distribution for obtaining improved strength characteristics of an optical trap.

In this article we study modified optical beams used as optical tweezers for guiding biological micro-objects. We mean to achieve more efficient micromanipulation by using crescent intensity distribution. During laboratory experiments to test their theoretical projections we manufactured a diffractive optical element (DOE) to generate the proposed intensity distribution. Experimental estimations are provided for DOE energy efficiency. We conduct both theoretical and experimental studies of the crescent beam trapping strength. It transpires that in some cases crescent-shaped beams are more efficient than more commonly used Gaussian beams.