Plasmonic Marangoni forces

Abstract

Localized surface-tension-driven forces (microscale Marangoni effect) caused by a temperature inhomogeneity from the decay of optically excited surface plasmons into phonons have been engaged in the actuation of adsorbed and applied liquid on a thin metal film. Microfluidic operations of transport, separation, mixing, and sorting have been experimentally and theoretically demonstrated using this all-optical modulation scheme.

Keywords

• surface plasmon
• marangoni convective flow
• microfluidics
• sensing