A method, apparatus, and system for optically sorting and/or manipulating
carbon nanotubes by creating an optical dipole trap with a focused light
source (e.g., a laser) are described in detail herein. In one
representative embodiment, light from the light source may be directed
onto a mixture of carbon nanotubes, the mixture including a target class
of carbon nanotubes having dimensions (e.g., length and diameter)
corresponding to particular electronic properties suitable for an
application. By identifying a resonant condition corresponding to the
target class of carbon nanotubes, and tuning the light source
substantially to the resonant condition, an optical dipole trap may be
created to attract carbon nanotubes of the target class to allow
manipulation and/or sorting of the target class of carbon nanotubes from
the mixture, or rotation of the nanotubes via rotation of a plane of
polarization of the light, in an embodiment.
