Work

Cell damage in near-infrared multimode optical traps as a result of multiphoton absorption

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: We report on cell damage of single cells confined in continuous-wave (cw), near-infrared (NIR) multimode optical traps as a result of multiphoton absorption phenomena. Trapping beams at NIR wavelengths less than 800 nm are capable of damaging cells through a two-photon absorption process. Cell damage is more pronounced in multimode cw traps compared with single-frequency true cw NIR traps because of transient power enhancement by longitudinal mode beating. Partial mode locking in tunable cw Ti:sapphire lasers used as trapping beam sources can produce unstable subnanosecond pulses at certain wavelengths that amplify multiphoton absorption effects significantly. We recommend the use of single-frequency long-wavelength NIR trapping beams for optical micromanipulation of vital cells.

Source: Optics Letters

DOI: 10.1364/ol.21.001090

Authors: K. König, H. Liang, M. W. Berns, B. J. Tromberg

Institutions: Friedrich Schiller University Jena, University of California, Irvine, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic

Language: English

Topic: Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: U.S. Department of Energy

Award: NEW GRANT - A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE MEDICAL APPLICATION OF LASERS