Abstract: Systems and methods for trapping and holding airborne particles using an orienting hollow beam are disclosed. In the various embodiments, an optical trap comprises: a light source for generating a beam of light; optics and/or mechanics for forming and shaping the beam of light into an orienting hollow beam having unequal axisymmetry with a substantially hollow ring geometry cross-section and no angular momentum; an optical focusing element for focusing the orienting hollow beam; and a trapping region where an airborne particle can be present to be trapped and held at or near a focal point of the focused optical focusing element. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused orienting hollow beam. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused orienting hollow beam. The orienting hollow beam may be made rotatable in some embodiments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for trapping and holding airborne particles, for further measurement and characterization. In the various embodiments, an optical trap is provided which generates and uses dual hollow conical beams to trap and hold absorbing and non-absorbing, spherical and irregularly shaped, liquid and solid airborne particles. The optical trap may include: a light source for generating a beam of light; optics for shaping and forming a hollow conical beam having a ring geometry from the beam of light; a trapping region where a particle can be present to be trapped; a first parabolic reflector configured to focus an inner portion of the hollow conical beam to a first focal point in the trapping region; and a second parabolic reflector configured to focus an outer portion of the hollow conical beam to a second focal point in the trapping region.