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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S78568/01
Title: ESF grant: Novel Optical Methods For Self Assembled Nanostructures (NOMSAN) 02-PE-SONS-063-NOMSAN.
Principal Investigator: Dholakia, Professor K
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Organisation: University of St Andrews
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 2004 Ends: 30 June 2007 Value (£): 418,484
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Complex fluids & soft solids Lasers & Optics
Optical Devices & Subsystems
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Optical tweezers offer an exciting non-invasive method for manipulating micron-sized particles with very high precision. The current proposal seeks to significantly enhance the optical toolkit and enable researchers the ability to assemble and study large arrays of tweezed particles in pre-described geometries, especially looking at creating sub-micron (nano) structures. The methodology will build upon the established expertise of both St Andrews and Barcelona on using novel light beam geometries and optical holography and diffractive optic technology to realise this end goal. We will tailor the light beam geometries to realise extended three-dimensional crystalline arrays of particles that will serve as testbeds for studying the generation of photonic bandgap crystals and other systems. We will investigate theoretically and experimentally the photonic crystal properties of the threedimensional microstructures and nanostructures fabricated. We will also investigate the simultaneous shaping of the light beams into the desired distributions and its all-optical frequency-conversion in nonlinear crystals, with the aim to generate complex threedimensional structures by wavelength-optimized photopolymerization of suitable materials. Additionally we will develop arrays of particles for enhanced bio-engineering studies: organ and tissue growth on systems can be implemented using this technology.
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Organisation Website: http://www.st-and.ac.uk