Construction of 1st BSU Undergraduate Optical Trap (Laser Tweezer)

Optical traps (laser tweezers) are instruments that use lasers to control objects and measure forces at the scale of proteins and DNA and thus become a major tool in cutting edge research in biology and biochemistry. Our project sets out to construct a first generation research quality optical trap; this encompasses the development, construction, and testing of the first-ever optical trap at Bridgewater State University. The design will be based on a paper by Bechhoefer and Wilson (Am. J. Phys., Vol. 70, No. 4, April 2002) where they outlined a true optical trap that is both cost efficient and safe for undergraduate research. A final test of the trap will be trapping and controlling five micro meter polystyrene beads which will allow us to determine the trap stiffness and strength.