Strong focusing on diffraction-limited spots is essential for many photonic applications and is particularly relevant for optical trapping;however,all currently used approaches fail to simultaneously provide flexible ...Strong focusing on diffraction-limited spots is essential for many photonic applications and is particularly relevant for optical trapping;however,all currently used approaches fail to simultaneously provide flexible transportation of light,straightforward implementation,compatibility with waveguide circuitry,and strong focusing.Here,we demonstrate the design and 3D nanoprinting of an ultrahigh numerical aperture meta-fibre for highly flexible optical trapping.Taking into account the peculiarities of the fibre environment,we implemented an ultrathin meta-lens on the facet of a modified single-mode optical fibre via direct laser writing,leading to a diffraction-limited focal spot with a recordhigh numerical aperture of up to NA≈0.9.The unique capabilities of this flexible,cost-effective,bio-and fibre-circuitrycompatible meta-fibre device were demonstrated by optically trapping microbeads and bacteria for the first time with only one single-mode fibre in combination with diffractive optics.Our study highlights the relevance of the unexplored but exciting field of meta-fibre optics to a multitude of fields,such as bioanalytics,quantum technology and life sciences.展开更多
文摘Strong focusing on diffraction-limited spots is essential for many photonic applications and is particularly relevant for optical trapping;however,all currently used approaches fail to simultaneously provide flexible transportation of light,straightforward implementation,compatibility with waveguide circuitry,and strong focusing.Here,we demonstrate the design and 3D nanoprinting of an ultrahigh numerical aperture meta-fibre for highly flexible optical trapping.Taking into account the peculiarities of the fibre environment,we implemented an ultrathin meta-lens on the facet of a modified single-mode optical fibre via direct laser writing,leading to a diffraction-limited focal spot with a recordhigh numerical aperture of up to NA≈0.9.The unique capabilities of this flexible,cost-effective,bio-and fibre-circuitrycompatible meta-fibre device were demonstrated by optically trapping microbeads and bacteria for the first time with only one single-mode fibre in combination with diffractive optics.Our study highlights the relevance of the unexplored but exciting field of meta-fibre optics to a multitude of fields,such as bioanalytics,quantum technology and life sciences.
