Unusually strong optical interactions between particles in quasi-one-dimensional geometries.

A theoretical analysis of the optically induced interaction between small particles in a quasi-one-dimensional system is presented. The total reflection of light modes near a geometric resonance leads to strong radiation pressure on a single particle. The presence of the two particles splits the resonance leading to a nontrivial oscillating interaction. The existence of stable, optically bound dimers under two counterpropagating (noncorrelated) light modes is also discussed.