Manipulación y captura óptica de microorganismos de agua estancada en la ciudad de Riobamba

Abstract

In Ecuador there are few studies of microorganisms using physical systems such as the optical tweezers which use radiation, the optics laboratory of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo has the instrument whose functionality is unknown, therefore, the main objective of this research project was to analyse and study the effect of radiation with matter in an immersion medium based on the technique of geometric and physical optics using the optical tweezers (OT). The experimental part was carried out with a 63X objective coupled to the OT experimental arrangement, with a laser located in the near infrared (λ = 650 nm), once the beam was calibrated the input and output power was measured by the OBJ, samples of stagnant water were taken from three locations in the city, A water quality analysis was made to make the culture of Escherichia coli and fungi, distilled water and silica beads were used in the preparation of the sample, the observation was done through a camera and Thorcam software, the results obtained were the manipulation and individual and group manipulation and capture of silica microspheres, E. Coli and Fungi, it was also possible to observe the presence of different types of protozoa, an optical trap was formed with a power of 7 mW, whose beam waist was 0.24 μm and an energy intensity of 3,87x10^10 W/m^2. In conclusion, the microorganisms were studied, captured and manipulated in a stable optical regime (d≫λ), they were also characterised by finding their size: ∅ 3.84 μm in Fungi; 5.84 μm long and 1.28 μm wide for E. Coli.