Conventional optical tweezers based on optical radiation forces (scattering, absorption and gradient forces) produced by a tightly focused laser beam have been primarily applied to particles with a dimension range from hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers. However, they do not always enable us to efficiently trap and manipulate particles at the nanoscale. New technology that significantly reinforces optical radiation at the nanoscale has been strongly desired.

In particular, the interplay between structured light fields (e.g., optical vortices, vector beams, non-diffracted beams etc.) and structured materials (e.g., metamaterials, plasmonic and photonic crystals etc.) on a sub-wavelength scale will yield new effects (e.g., spin-orbital momentum coupling, unconventional opto-mechanical effects etc.) for advanced optical manipulation. Such structured light-matter interactions will further act as advanced technologies of optical manipulation and enable the fabrication of novel material structures, including chiral structures and laser-induced periodic surface structures.

The OMC ‘18 event is organized and sponsored by the Optical Society of Japan in cooperation with several academic societies and associations. OMC ‘18 will include the latest research and new technologies for optical radiation forces in the field of optical trappings and manipulations, as well as related topics. In particular, the conference welcomes research on structured light fields, plasmon-resonant fields, metamaterials, plasmonic and photonic crystals and other topics related to optical manipulation and structured materials. This conference will also provide opportunities for scientific and professional networking, and scientific inspiration to the attendees. All abstracts will be peer-reviewed by the program committee.

Topics of interest include the following fields:

structured optical fields, including beam shaping, polarization control, pulse shaping, frequency extension, and ultrafast laser technologies

optical trapping and manipulation, including optical tweezer, holographic optical manipulation, plasmon trapping, multi-photon trapping, and atom trapping and cooling

advanced devices and instruments, including spatial light modulator, adaptive optics, and near-field optical devices

structured materials, including metamaterials, and plasmonic and photonic crystals

applications including structured material processing, single molecule trapping, bio-photonics, metamaterials, quantum communications, and selective control of chemical reaction

novel approaches, including novel interaction between optical fields and materials on nano-scale, novel regimes of spin-orbit interaction, and quantum control of molecular dynamics.