Control of microbubbles in water

We demonstrate a simple scheme for generation and control of microbubbles using a focused beam of a continuous infrared laser. The main mechanisms of manipulation of microbubbles are based on thermal and optical phenomena. The bubble moves towards the maximum heat and towards the minimum light intensity. We adjusted the ratio between thermal and optical forces, the values of the energy density of the focused beam, at constant laser power. In this case, the bubbles moved from the periphery of the beam to its center and vice versa. Displacements of bubbles also occurred during the change of azimuth of linear polarization of the incident beam.