Meta-conveyor subwavelength metasurfaces transport nanoparticles along custom, open-ended 3D paths

https://phys.org/news/2026-05-optical-metaconveyors-enable-programmable-nanomanipulation.html

"optical tweezers/ spatial light modulators bulky/ complex to integrate/ mathematically restricted to moving particles in rigid, closed loops... overcome engineering compact, passive chip combining hybrid propagation phases with geometric phases to dynamically switch phase gradients... altering input/ output light polarization generates independent lateral optical motions: forward, reverse, stopping on demand... virtual maze-solving meta-conveyor steered nanoparticles entrance to exit avoiding dead ends/ obstacles"