We report a photothermal delivery of microscopic objects based on convection flows at the surface of water. The convection flows were induced by photothermal effect through a laser beam of 1.55 μm wavelength from a fiber tip. A 206 μm diameter oil drop was delivered forward and backward by changing the laser beam at a power of 28.5-40 mW. In addition, the delivery has been further demonstrated with a cluster of carbon and red blood cells at the laser powers of 14 and 20 mW, respectively.
© 2011 Optical Society of America