The evanescent field of an optical waveguide can be used to trap and propel microscopic particles. A 1µm particle is trapped on a strip waveguide and propelled forward until it reaches a 10µm gap at the centre of a loop, created by splitting the waveguide into two branches. According to simulations, the particle will be elevated 3µm in the gap and be stably trapped in the middle of the gap. The goal ...