In an interview , Steven Chu described how Ashkin had first envisioned optical tweezing as a method for trapping atoms .
This research earned Chu the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Claude Cohen - Tannoudji and William D. Phillips .
In an interview , Chu   described how Ashkin had first envisioned optical tweezing as a method for trapping atoms .
This research earned Chu the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Claude Cohen - Tannoudji and William D. Phillips .