Advanced Optothermal and Optical Trapping and Manipulation: From Microscale Interfaces to Applications
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Interaction Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 12
Special Issue Editors
Interests: fiber-optic sensors; optical trapping and manipulation; opto-thermal trapping
Interests: optical manipulation and photothermal phenomena; optical fiber sensors for environmental and health applications; fiber lasers and optical cavitation
Interests: fiber-optic sensors; optical trapping and manipulation; opto-thermal trapping, opto-thermal effects; non-linear optics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Recent advances in light–matter interaction at the microscale have opened unprecedented opportunities for the controlled manipulation of particles, soft matter, and interfacial systems, including gas microbubbles in liquids. Among these techniques, optical trapping and optothermal manipulation have emerged as complementary and innovative approaches that expand the frontiers of precision control in photonics. Optical trapping, rooted in radiation pressure and gradient forces, enables the non-contact manipulation of dielectric and biological objects with submicron accuracy, providing a versatile platform to study processes in physics, chemistry, and biology. In parallel, optothermal methods exploit localized heating, thermal gradients, and Marangoni flows to exert versatile control over liquid interfaces, micro or nanoparticles, microbubbles, and living systems, thereby offering pathways to engineer dynamic environments and tunable optical cavities. The synergy between these methods is further enhanced by the integration of experimental demonstrations with theoretical and computational modeling, which together provide a robust framework for understanding emergent behaviors in complex fluids and microscale systems. Their potential extends to the development of next-generation photonic devices, lab-on-a-chip technologies, biomedical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring platforms. This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge contributions that advance both fundamental understanding and practical applications of optical trapping and optothermal manipulation, with emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and innovative strategies that push the boundaries of light-driven manipulation.
Prof. Dr. Gabriel Ortega-Mendoza
Dr. Rafael Zaca Móran
Dr. Arturo Guzmán Barraza
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- optical trapping
- optothermal trapping
- Marangoni effect
- thermal gradients
- microparticles
- mucrobubbles
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