In this work, three-dimensional manipulation of multiple defects and structures is performed in the framework of
holographic optical trapping approach using a spatial light modulator. A holographic optical tweezers system is
constructed using a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to generate multiple optical traps. We optimize the tweezers
setup to perform polarization-sensitive holographic optical trapping and then explore properties of optical trapping in
thermotropic liquid crystals and compare them to the case of isotropic fluids. One of the major challenges complicating
the quantitative measurements in these fluids is the anisotropic nature of the liquid crystal medium, which makes the
tight focusing of the laser beam difficult and considerably weakens optical trapping forces. Using liquid crystals with
low birefringence allows us to mitigate these artefacts. Optical trapping forces and the trap stiffness are first calibrated
for different laser powers using viscous drag forces. This is then used to probe inter-particle and defect-particle
interaction forces as well as to characterize tension of line defects in the bulk of liquid crystals.
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