What this work contributes
Demonstrates optical pulling of spherical microparticles against the beam's forward direction and controlled particle sorting through polarization changes. Self-arranged particle structures further modify the optical force, giving a concrete example of geometry changing transport under an applied field.
Where the evidence stops
The particles exchange momentum with externally supplied and scattered light; pulling upstream does not imply negative total momentum cost or an isolated drive. The publisher records a February 2013 correction, DOI 10.1038/nphoton.2013.35, which should accompany detailed reuse.
Original source
O. Brzobohatý, V. Karásek, M. Šiler, L. Chvátal, T. Čižmár, P. Zemánek. Experimental demonstration of optical transport, sorting and self-arrangement using a ‘tractor beam’. Nature Photonics 7, 123–127 (2013).
Source date: 2013-01-20.
How we use it
This record belongs to Photon momentum. Its evidence label describes the cited work, not the maturity of a Metric Flight device. Follow the original methods, corrections and conditions before transferring a result to a different geometry or scale.
Editorial note reviewed 19 October 2026. AI assisted research discovery and synthesis. Citation metadata and claims were checked against primary publication or institutional records; full-text access varies. Read the source for the complete method.