Mass and Shape Determination of Optically Levitated Nanoparticles

When introducing a nanoparticle into an optical trap, its mass and shape are not immediately apparent. We combine a number of methods to determine the mass and shape of trapped nanoparticles, which have previously only been used separately. We demonstrate that the use of multiple classification techniques is in certain cases required to avoid incorrect or ambiguous results. The ability to identify these parameters is a key step for a range of experiments on precision measurements and sensing using optically levitated nanoparticles.