Tweezers AOT-100

The AOT-100 allows users to hold airborne particles for extended periods with ease. Area: Aerosol Optical Tweezers Application: Aerosol Research The AOT-100 Aerosol Optical Tweezers allow users to hold airborne particles for extended periods with ease. Holding particles in an optical trap enables many different parameters to be studied continuously over times varying from milliseconds to hours. The AOT-100 Aerosol Optical Tweezers is the result of collaboration between the Bristol University Aerosol Research Centre and Biral. The Aerosol Optical Tweezers (AOT) offers a step-change in what can be achieved in the measurement of airborne particles. Most single particle aerosol characterisation instruments make measurements on particles as they transit a measurement space. This provides a snapshot of the particle characteristics at the time of measurement but cannot follow changes to the particle characteristics over extended periods of time. While this enabled measurements to be made on very large numbers of particles it severely limits what can be measured and precludes the study of any time-dependent processes. The AOT-100 is able to hold particles in an laser optical trap for as long as required and this enables measurements that would be impossible in a transit. Changes to the chemical and physical characteristics of the particle can be monitored with time and with changes to the environment in which it is being held. The instrument is equipped with the means to continuously control and monitor the humidity of the gaseous medium in which the particle is suspended.