AOT-100 AEROSOL OPTICAL TWEEZERS0 pages

AOT-100 AEROSOL OPTICAL TWEEZERS

AOT-100 Aerosol Optical
Tweezers
An integrated system for trapping and holding
aerosol particles for extended study
… built-in analysis software from the University of Bristol
Aerosol Research Centre

Particles held in a highly focussed laser trap

Simultaneous trapping of multiple particles

Size measureable with nanometre resolution

Highly sensitive refractive index measurement

Time resolution less than 1 second

No specialist skills required

Optically safe for use in any laboratory environment

Most single particle aerosol characterisation instruments
make measurements on particles as they transit a
measurement space. This provides a snapshot of the
particle characteristics at the time of measurement but
cannot follow changes to the particle characteristics over
extended periods of time.
The AOT, on the other hand, holds particles in an optical
trap for as long as is required and this enables
measurements that would be impossible in a transit.
Changes to the chemical and physical characteristics of
the particle can be monitored with time and with changes
to the environment in which it is being held.
The instrument is equipped with the means to
continuously control and monitor the humidity of the
gaseous medium in which the particle is suspended. This
provides a means of studying, for example, the chemistry
of cloud droplets or the changes that occur when
particles are inhaled.
Trapping droplets offers the unique ability to measure
and monitor changes in particle size with exceptional

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sensitivity (<1nm) and time resolution (<1s). This is
achieved by exploiting the Whispering Gallery Mode
amplification of Raman scattering from chemical
constituents of the droplet, such as water.
The same technique also enables the refractive index of
particles to be measured and monitored with an accuracy
(±0.05%) that could not be achieved by any other
method.
The system is provided with a suite of software tools that
both control the instrument functions and process the
raw data. So the range of measured particle properties,
such as size and refractive index, can be directly
monitored alongside any changes to the microscope
image of the particle.
The AOT is a tool that can be used for a very wide variety
of research objectives many of which may be novel. The
instrument has been designed to provide a range of
techniques that have had extensive development and
have been shown to be reliable. However, the
components and design of the system offer a high degree
of flexibility that should enable the development of new
applications. Biral would be very happy to discuss and
offer advice on the feasibility of such applications.

www.biral.com

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Aerosol Optical Tweezers (AOT) offers a step-change in
what can be achieved in the measurement of airborne
particles.

email: enquiries@biral.com