Numerical simulation of optically trapped particles
Date
2014
Authors
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 9289, 12th Education and Training in Optics and Photonics Conference
Print ISSN
0277-786X
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
SPIE
Volume
9289
Issue
Pages
1 - 6
Language
English
Type
Conference Paper
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Some randomness is present in most phenomena, ranging from biomolecules and nanodevices to financial markets and human organizations. However, it is not easy to gain an intuitive understanding of such stochastic phenomena, because their modeling requires advanced mathematical tools, such as sigma algebras, the Itô formula and martingales. Here, we discuss a simple finite difference algorithm that can be used to gain understanding of such complex physical phenomena. In particular, we simulate the motion of an optically trapped particle that is typically used as a model system in statistical physics and has a wide range of applications in physics and biophysics, for example, to measure nanoscopic forces and torques.
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Book Title
Keywords
Brownian motion, Optical forces, Stochastic differential equations, Brownian movement, Differential equations