1. Team: Maryam Badakhshi, Shannon O’Keefe, Laura Poloni, Hasmita Singh

2. Overview 1) Introduction 2) Background & Applications 3) Apparatus 4) Laser Safety

3. 1. Introduction

4. Experiment Context

5. 2. Background & Applications

6. Manipulation of Nanowires (Tong et. al., Nano Letters, 2010) Alignment and rotation of a silver nanowire (Nam et. al., IJPEM, 2009) Four spheres trapped and rotated by linearly scanning with laser light

7. (Gross et. al., Methods in Enzymology, 2010) Isolation and Visualization of DNA Trapping of two beads “Catching” a Single DNA Molecule Force-Extension analysis of the trapped DNA Staining with Fluorescent Dye Protein-coated DNA region Fluctuations in DNA molecule (Gross et. al., Methods in Enzymology, 2010)

8. 3. Apparatus

9. Main Components Very Dangerous! Safe!

10. 4. Laser Safety

11. Optical Trap Laser Characteristics 980 nm  Infrared range 330mW maximum power Collimated beam Class 3B laser

12. Laser Classification Class 3B Laser Safety Interlocks Class 1 working environment Hazardous under direct and specular reflection, but not diffuse reflection Direct exposure to beam is an eye hazard Maximum power 500mW Considered incapable of causing injury

13. Hazards Diffuse reflections Invisible Most dangerous procedure, contact your TA/Instructor Eye injuries Stray Beams Beam Alignment Biological Effects

14. Cornea Focussing element Lens Fine focus Vitreous Humor Retina Image is projected from the cornea and lens Connection to brain through optic nerve Fovea Sharp vision

15. Biological Effects Laser Light 400-1400nm Focussed beam on retina Amplification of light by human eye: 10,000 Extremely large irradiance Dependent on exposure time Retinal Hazard Region Thermal Effects Overheating Retina burns Invisible light: damage may only be detected post-injury Severe damage may require surgery or transplant Scars / blind spots in the field of vision Depending on location of the burn, could permanently lose: Central vision Peripheral vision

16. Laser Hazards Control Wear laser safety glasses AT ALL TIMES - Wavelength and Optical Density Remove wristwatches or reflective jewellery Close and lock the room door Place “Laser Work in Progress” warning sign on door If someone unexpectedly enters, turn laser off In case of an emergency, contact your TA/Instructor or UofT Campus Police 416-978-2222 Return the laser controller key when completed Turn off laser when changing samples

17. Laser Hazards Control Wear laser safety glasses AT ALL TIMES - Wavelength and Optical Density Remove wristwatches or reflective jewellery Close and lock the room door Place “Laser Work in Progress” warning sign on door If someone unexpectedly enters, turn laser off In case of an emergency, contact your TA/Instructor or UofT Campus Police 416-978-2222 Return the laser controller key when completed Turn off laser when changing samples