The technology is detailed in an article for Optics Express. The laser creates an optical thrust beam that can manipulate distant objects, but it currently has one major drawback: it’s ridiculously small.

what is known

Despite its small scale, the beam has significant power. Moreover, previous versions and analogues were even smaller.

In previous studies, the pulling force of light was too small to attract a macroscopic object. With our new approach, the gravitational force of light has a much larger amplitude. In fact, it is three times greater than the light pressure used to propel a solar sail, which uses the momentum of the photons to generate a small thrust.
– says research team member Lei Wang from Qingdao University of Science and Technology in China.

During experiments, scientists managed to bend special composite structures from graphene and silicon dioxide with the help of a laser. It caused the far side of the composite structure to heat up and release gas molecules, causing the structure to bend in the direction of the light. The researchers say that this technique “enables long-distance non-contact extraction, which can be useful for a variety of scientific experiments.” For example, an invention may be needed on Mars.

The diluted gas environment we use to demonstrate the technology is similar to that found on Mars. Maybe one day we can operate vehicles or planes on Mars,
– Adds Lei Wang.

Interestingly, in 2011 NASA investigated whether similar thrust beams could be used to collect samples from Mars. So far, the small thrust beam is just a proof-of-concept. Before they can be put into practice, Wang and his colleagues need to find the exact relationship between the laser’s power and thrust and enable it to operate in a wider atmospheric conditions.