Berlin 2015 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 9: Brownian Motion and Transport (Joint session DY/ CPP/ TT)

DY 9.13: Talk

Monday, March 16, 2015, 18:30–18:45, BH-N 243

Towards single molecule trapping and manipulation with dynamic temperature gradients — Marco Braun, Andreas Bregulla, and •Frank Cichos — Molecular Nanophotonics Group, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig

Single nano-objects in solution are driven by Brownian motion which is fueled by thermal energy. These Brownian fluctuations increase in strength with increasing temperature. Therefore, it is at first glance counter intuitive to confine Brownian fluctuations with the help of elevated temperatures. In thermal nonequilibrium, however, temperature gradients induce thermo-phoretic and thermo-osmotic drifts which provide the means for single particle manipulation in solution. Here we describe experiments which use optically heated metal nanostructures to create dynamical temperature profiles in solution. These temperature profiles induce well defined thermo-phoretic drift fields and act as effective potentials for objects suspended in liquid. Combined with optical feedback mechanisms, such effective potentials can be shaped to store and manipulate single or even multiple objects in a small observation volume. The developed thermophoretic trapping system therefore paves the way for extended single molecule studies in solution or even well-controlled bi- or multi molecular interaction studies.