The project started in 2020 at Princeton University, in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, under the supervision of Prof. Craig B. Arnold. In his laboratory, experiments implementing optically trapped dielectric microspheres for the near-field irradiation of materials took place. Then, a secondment period at FEMTO-St, in Besançon, France under the supervision of Dr. François Courvoisier. Here, different microlens fabrication methods were developed, consisting in the selective melting of glass fibers. Importantly, experience with the use of Spatial Light Modulators was acquired during this phase. The final incoming phase at the home institution, starting in 2022, the Spanish National Research Council, in Madrid, Spain, under the supervision of Prof. Jan Siegel. It was here where the culmination of the project took place, allowing the demonstration of actual lateral and axial control in an optical system based on a spatial light modulator and a microsphere as last focusing element.
The project outcome includes 7 peer-reviewed publications, 1book for scientific dissemination, 2 book chapter contributions and 1 US patent application. Moreover, 20 scientific contributions were presented at different international conferences in the field of laser materials processing, optics and photonics. 2 of these contributions were invited talks and 1 prize was received for best paper. Strong emphasis was put on dissemination activities to non-scientific audiences in form of 4 seminars and participation in 3 outreach actions in USA, France and Spain.
