Tractor beam moves larger objects longer distances

William Atkins
Thursday, 09 September 2010 01:03

Science - Energy

Scientists at Australian National University have invented a Tractor Beam that can move larger objects than what could be transported in the past. And, the new tractor beam can move these objects about a meter or so with only the use of laser light.

 

A tractor beam is a device with the ability to move an object with the use of energy rays (beams).

They are often popularized in science fiction movies, such as in the Star Trek movies, as ways to hold on to and transport spaceships, cargo, and other objects (similar to a crane but without the hardware).

Laser beams, in the movies, are also used in such hypothetical spacecraft to hold onto an enemy ship or other such combatants so they cannot escape (kinda like a grappling hook but without the actual hook).

But, in real-life, tractor beams are actually being developed by scientists as a way to move objects using concentrated beams of electromagnetic radiation (light).

Scientists at Australian National University (Canberra) have built one such device that is able to move small particles a meter or so (three feet or more) using only the power of light.

In the past, scientists were able to move an object that was a few micrometers (one micrometer [micron] is equal to one millionth of a meter) in size a distance of a few millimeters (one millimeter is equal to one hundredth of a meter).

Page two continues.