Plasmonic tweezers operate by exploiting the phenomenon known as surface plasmon resonance (SPR). When light hits a metallic nanostructure, it induces the collective oscillation of electrons at the surface, generating a strong electromagnetic field in the immediate vicinity of the nanostructure. These localized electromagnetic fields can exert optical forces on nearby particles, allowing for their manipulation. The key components of these tweezers are typically made from noble metals like gold or silver, which have excellent plasmonic properties.
