Switchable optical cage by use of coated axicons for optical trapping

We present a novel method to generate switchable optical trapping by together tight focusing of two noncoherent cylindrical vector beams, which were produced by two pairs of axicons with polarizing films. The simulation result shows that the optical trapping shape is controllable varying from three-dimensional cage to channel by smoothly tuning the distances between axicons. We verify the cylindrical vector characteristic of the output beams from proposed setup based on vector diffraction theory. Finally, gradient forces of the optical trapping were calculated to demonstrate the potential application of this system in the field of micro particle manipulation. (C) 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.