👉 Steering light particles involves manipulating their paths using external forces or fields, often to achieve precise control over their movement in various applications such as optical tweezers, laser-based sorting, or atmospheric studies. This process typically relies on principles like gradient forces, scattering forces, and radiation pressure. Gradient forces attract particles to regions of high light intensity, guiding them toward the center of a focused beam. Scattering forces push particles along the direction of light propagation, while radiation pressure exerts a force proportional to the light's intensity. By carefully designing optical setups—such as using lenses, mirrors, or diffraction gratings—researchers can steer these particles with high precision, enabling applications from micromanipulation in biological studies to advanced optical communications.
