Optical Tweezer Laser Focus/Alignment Troubleshooting

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Thread starter wheatie
Start date Apr 9, 2024
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Optical tweezers

In summary, troubleshooting optical tweezer laser focus and alignment involves checking the positioning of optical components, ensuring proper calibration of the laser, and verifying the alignment of the optical path. Common issues include misalignment due to vibrations, dust on lenses, or incorrect focal adjustments. Solutions typically include re-aligning the optical setup, cleaning components, and confirming the laser's focus and power output to achieve optimal trapping efficiency. Regular maintenance and careful adjustments are crucial for consistent performance.

Apr 9, 2024

wheatie

TL;DR Summary: Optical Tweezer Trapping Help

Currently we have an optical tweezer setup that has a beam expander + dichroic mirror that fills the aperture of the objective, and a microscope that is able to look into the aperture and see a diameter of about 30 microns.
We have been stuck for a couple weeks now, as we do not know if our laser is actually trapping any particle/if the trapping is occurring within the fov of the camera.
Our questions would be:
How can we tell if our laser is focused.
How can we tell if our camera and laser is focused at the same point.

I've included a photo of our current setup.
Thank you!