Plasmonic Marangoni forces

Abstract

Localized surface-tension-driven forces (microscale Marangoni effect) caused by a temperature inhomogeneity from the decay of optically excited surface plasmons into phonons have been engaged to the actuation of adsorbed and applied liquid on a thin metal film. Microfluidic operations of transport, separation, mixing and sorting have been experimentally and theoretically demonstrated using this all-optical modulation scheme.

© The Authors. All rights reserved. [DOI: 10.2971/jeos.2006.06030]