Holographic generation and three-dimensional rotation of arrays of optical tweezers

The summary form only given. Recently optical tweezers have undergone a revolution by incorporating spatial light modulators (SLMs) that make it possible to create large numbers of optical traps and dynamically re-configure them in three dimensions. In this article we demonstrate ways for improved interactive, three-dimensional control of microscopic particles trapped in optical tweezers. In particular, we are able to create three-dimensional arrays of optical traps and rotate them in three dimensions. We calculate the patterns on the SLM-phase holograms - by combining blazed holograms of combinations of wedges and lenses. We believe that the unprecedented three-dimensional control of microscopic particles trapped in optical tweezers will find applications in the biological sciences.