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Study of soft and biological matter systems using optical tweezers

Study of soft and biological matter systems using optical tweezers

Date20th Oct 2021

Time05:00 PM

Venue Webex

PAST EVENT

Details

A rigid body can have 6 degrees of freedom, namely 3 translational and 3 rotational degrees of freedom. These translational degrees of freedom have been well explored in optical tweezers. Further, in the nomenclature of the airlines, the yaw degree of rotational freedom has also been conventionally well explored in tweezers. But the pitch and roll degrees are only beginning to be explored. We at the optical tweezers lab explore this mode of rotation and study their application into soft and biological systems. For example, we study the cell membrane fluctuations while introducing local "slope" fluctuations and then explore intracellular viscoelasticity using conventional thermal translational and rotational motion. We also show the many ways in which pitch motion can be generated in optical tweezers to even execute pitch torque wrench. We also touch upon a few other systems that we explore using optical tweezers in our lab like using upconverting particles to enhance Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy, study waves on the interface of sessile water droplets, micropatterning using thermo-optical tweezers etc.

Speakers

Prof. Basudev Roy

Physics Office