Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XI

This conference celebrates, quite generally, the legacy of Arthur Ashkin, whose early work on optical trapping has spawned enormous productivity and enhancement of fundamental knowledge across the sciences, highlighting our understanding of (nano-scale) molecular motors, unravelling the mechanics of DNA and cells, having great impact on studies of statistical mechanics, of soft condensed matter and of hydrodynamic interactions. Novel sample synthesis is providing unusual and powerful systems for study with optical traps. Fundamental studies of the momentum of light offers tantalizing possibilities for rotational torque measurements and other studies in the near future. Biological studies of single molecules have been extended as the range of clearly established optical force calibrations has now been extended down to the 20 fN range while optical torques have been calibrated down to 4 zepto-Newton-meters (i.e., 4 fN-microns), and new applications continue to appear, for example as optical trapping is fused with other microscopies (e.g., Raman). Integrating optical micromanipulation with microfluidics is a current hot topic in the field. Particle dynamics on extended optical landscapes offer a uniquely valuable model thermodynamic system, and have been examined for studies of stochastic resonance, crystal nucleation, and optical binding among others. Each year this conference draws well over one hundred presentations and, of course, a larger number of participants. The poster sessions are given sufficient room and sufficient refreshments are offered to ensure an excellent level of interaction. Notably, this conference has sustained a truly international character. The proceedings of the conference contains a large collection of relevant papers, making a valuable contribution to the field.