Optical Control of Thermocapillary Effects in Complex Nanofluids

    Authors

    Y. Lamhot; A. Barak; C. Rotschild; M. Segev; M. Saraf; E. Lifshitz; A. Marmur; R. El-Ganainy;D. N. Christodoulides

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Phys. Rev. Lett.

    Keywords

    TECHNOLOGY; SURFACE; MOTION; LIGHT; DROP; Physics, Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    We study the strong coupling of light and nanoparticle suspensions and their surface tension effect in capillaries. We show experimentally and theoretically that increasing the intensity of a narrow laser beam passing through a capillary far away from the surface results in a significant decrease in the fluid level. The underlying mechanism relies on light-induced redistribution of nanoparticles in the bulk and the surface of the fluid, facilitating continuous optical control over the surface position. The experiments manifest optical control from afar over properties of fluid surfaces.

    Journal Title

    Physical Review Letters

    Volume

    103

    Issue/Number

    26

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    4

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000273232200022

    ISSN

    0031-9007

    Share

    COinS