US Patent 8174742 System for applying optical forces from phase gradients

A system and method for creating extended optical traps for applying optical forces to a material to be manipulated for a commercial application. The system and method include applying a hologram of appropriate characteristics to a beam of light wherein the hologram characteristics include a transverse optical component to apply optical forces transverse to an optical axis of the system. A shape phase component achieves this transverse optical component and also intensity gradient components can be applied via the hologram to provide programmable extended optical traps for a selectable commercial application.