Photon mediated long range correlation in optically levitated graphite microparticles

Optically levitated microscopic particles offer a novel approach for studying long-range light-matter interactions, which is essential for understanding the collective dynamics of trapped particles. In this letter, we present an optical tweezer system that synergistically combines optical and photophoretic forces to achieve the trapping of absorbing particles in air. This system facilitates the formation of long-range optically bound states with significantly large interparticle separations. The dynamics of these bound states are investigated using cross-correlation and autocorrelation analyses, revealing the interparticle coupling. Further, we examine the influence of beam parameters on particle motion and highlight the pivotal role of photophoretic force.