We present the dynamics of microparticle launching and loading into optical traps in air. To address repeatable launching and loading of particles into the trap remained as a stubborn obstacle to realization of robust trapping systems, we investigated launching and trapping mechanism, analyzing particle trajectories during the three phases of particle loading: vibration and launching from a substrate, entrainment into the trap with dissipation, and steady state trapping. We identify characteristics that can be exploited to enable more repeatable launching, including in situ measurement of adhesion or natural frequency and the existence of stable subharmonic modes of particle vibration.
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