Elastic light scattering measurements from multiple red blood cells in elliptical optical tweezers

Different theoretical models have been developed to understand light propagation in biological media and to facilitate the analysis of experimental data, both at the cellular level and in bulk tissues. Optical tweezers, combined with a light scattering measurement facility, enable the measurement of elastic light scattering distributions from single particles and cells. The aim of this paper is to present elastic light scattering measurement results from several red blood cells (RBCs) held in elliptical optical tweezers and to compare these results with theoretical predictions found in literature. Both faceon and rim-on incidence of He-Ne laser light (vertical polarization) in relation to the measured RBCs was considered. In the face-on case, light scattering intensity was larger from two RBCs than from one, but almost no difference was found when using three RBCs instead of two. In rim-on incidence, clear changes in the shape of the scattering light intensity field were found when the number of RBCs was increased from one to two. These results are supported by modelling results from literature.