Metaoptics Enable Precise Control of Optical Forces on Silicon Nanomembranes

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have demonstrated deterministic control over optical forces exerted on metasurfaces integrated with suspended silicon nanomembranes. By meticulously engineering the interference of multipolar modes, the team successfully realized both attractive and repulsive optical forces within a phase-controlled standing wave environment.

This advancement leverages the principles of metaoptics, where subwavelength nanostructures manipulate light-matter interactions beyond conventional optics. By tailoring the electromagnetic response of the metasurface, the researchers could switch the direction and magnitude of optical forces with high precision. This capability opens new avenues for optical manipulation at the nanoscale, with potential applications in optomechanics, nanorobotics, and advanced photonic devices.

The work builds on foundational studies by Lebedew (1901) and Nichols & Hull, who first measured the pressure of light. However, the present research takes a significant leap forward by enabling active and reversible control of optical forces via structural design, rather than relying solely on material properties or external fields.

Such tunable optical force control could revolutionize the development of reconfigurable photonic circuits, high-sensitivity sensors, and dynamic optical tweezers, paving the way for next-generation nano-optomechanical systems.