Method of movement of microscopic objects

2001/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Nanoteknologia

Scientists at St. Andrews University of Scotland have invented a method to move chromosomally sized nanoscopic elements and machines with the help of light rays. For this purpose they have used a special laser.

When a ray of light collides with an object, part of the light is refracted. Consequently, the moment of light and object changes and the moment of the object is directed to the most intense point of light. Being the object in the most intense part of the beam is rotated.

Therefore, the motion of the particle (speed and direction) can be controlled very precisely. According to scientists, this method will allow to move future engines, centrifuges and other nanoscopic rotary parts.