Controlling carbon nanotubes using optical traps

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to control carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A laser beam is focused to a carbon nanotube (CNT) in a fluid. The CNT is responsive to a trapping frequency. The CNT is manipulated by controlling the focused laser beam.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a fluid containing a carbon nanotube (CNT), the CNT being responsive to a trapping frequency, the CNT being manipulated by a focused laser beam controlled by a laser.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the laser varies frequency of the laser beam to match the trapping frequency to trap the CNT at a trapping site in a first fluidic layer.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the laser changes position of focal point of the laser beam from a first location to a second location to move the trapped CNT from a first site in the first layer to a second site in a second layer.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the trapped CNT is released by one of turning off the laser beam, blocking the laser beam, filtering the laser beam to reduce laser intensity, changing frequency of the laser beam, using a different fluidic medium at the second layer having different viscosity or dielectric constant, and moving the laser beam across a liquid-solid interface.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the trapped CNT is released at an interface between the first and second layers having different viscosities.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the trapped CNT is aligned by polarizing the laser beam.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a substrate layer to immobilize the CNT by being functionalized.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the laser beam is focused to a multi-walled CNT (MWNT) having a plurality of single-walled CNT (SWNT) to manipulate the MWNT.  
     
     
         17 . A system comprising: 
 a fluid containing a carbon nanotube (CNT), the CNT being responsive to a trapping frequency;    a laser to focus a laser beam to the CNT to manipulate the CNT by controlling the laser beam; and    an optical assembly placed between the laser and the fluid to modulate the laser beam.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the laser varies frequency of the laser beam to match the trapping frequency to trap the CNT at a trapping site in the first fluidic layer.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the laser changes position of focal point of the laser beam from a first location to a second location to move the trapped CNT from a first site in the first layer to a second site in the second layer.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the trapped CNT is released by one of turning off the laser beam, blocking the laser beam, filtering the laser beam to reduce laser intensity, changing frequency of the laser beam, using a different fluidic medium at the second layer having different viscosity or dielectric constant, and moving the laser beam across a liquid-solid interface.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the trapped CNT is released at an interface between the first and second layers having different viscosities.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the trapped CNT is aligned by polarizing the laser beam.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a substrate layer to immobilize the CNT by being functionalized.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the laser beam is focused to a multi-walled CNT (MWNT) having a plurality of single-walled CNTs (SWNTs) to manipulate the MWNT.