Laser trapping dynamics of L-alanine depending on the laser polarization

Abstract

We successfully demonstrate crystallization and crystal rotation of L-alanine in D2O solution using a focused laser beam of 1064 nm with right- or left-handed circularly polarization. Upon focusing each laser beam into a solution/air interface of the solution thin film, one single crystal is generally formed from the focal spot. The necessary time for the crystallization is systematically examined against polarization and power of the trapping laser. The significant difference in the average time is observed between two polarization directions at a relatively high laser power, where the left-handed circularly polarized laser takes 3 times longer than the right-handed one. On the other hand, the prepared crystal is stably trapped and rotated at the focal point by circularly polarized lasers after the crystallization, and the rotation direction is completely controlled by the polarization of the trapping laser. The mechanisms for the crystallization and the crystal rotation are discussed in terms of trapping force and rotation torque of circularly polarized lasers acting on the liquid-like clusters and its bulk crystal, respectively.