Laser induced vibration of a thin soap film.

Olivier Emile (1) , Janine Emile (2)

1 URU 435 LPL - URU 435 Laboratoire de physique des lasers
2 IPR - Institut de Physique de Rennes

We report on the vibration of a thin soap film based on the optical radiation pressure force. The modulated low power laser induces a counter gravity flow in a vertical free standing draining film. The thickness of the soap film is then higher in the upper region than in the lower region of the film. Moreover, the lifetime of the film is dramatically increased by a factor of 2. Since the laser beam only acts mechanically on the film interfaces, such a film can be implemented in an optofluidic diaphragm pump, the interfaces behaving like a vibrating membrane and the liquid in-between being the fluid to be pumped. Such a pump could then be used in delicate micro-equipment, in chips where temperature variations are detrimental and even in biological systems.

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]

Olivier Emile, Janine Emile. Laser induced vibration of a thin soap film.. Lab on a Chip, 2014, 14 (18), pp.3525. ⟨10.1039/c4lc00626g⟩. ⟨hal-01058032⟩