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Optical trapping for space mirrors

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Might it be possible to create mirrors for space telescopes, using nothing but microscopic particles held in place by light? A study that exploits a technique called optical binding provides a step towards this goal.

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Figure 1: Laser-trapped beads.

T. M. Grzegorczyk, J. Rohner & J.-M. Fournier

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. David McGloin is in the Division of Physics, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK.,

    David McGloin

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  1. David McGloin
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Correspondence to David McGloin.

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McGloin, D. Optical trapping for space mirrors. Nature 506, 437–438 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/506437a

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