Multipolar interference effects in nanophotonics

TL;DR

This paper reviews how multipolar interference in nanostructures enables advanced control of light at the nanoscale, impacting scattering, radiation patterns, and novel optical effects.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of multipolar interference effects in various nanostructures and discusses potential for future nanoscale light manipulation techniques.

Findings

Analysis of multipolar interference effects in nanostructures

Identification of phenomena like unidirectional scattering and optical anapoles

Proposal of new interference effects for future research

Abstract

Scattering of electromagnetic waves by an arbitrary nanoscale object can be characterized by a multipole decomposition of the electromagnetic field that allows to describe the scattering intensity and radiation pattern through interferences of dominating excited multipole modes. In modern nanophotonics, both generation and interference of multipole modes start to play an indispensable role, and they enable nanoscale manipulation of light with many related applications. Here we review the multipolar interference effects in metallic, metal-dielectric, and dielectric nanostructures, and suggest a comprehensive view on many phenomena involving the interferences of electric, magnetic and toroidal multipoles, which drive a number of recently discussed effects in nanophotonics such as unidirectional scattering, effective optical antiferromagnetism, generalized Kerker scattering with controlled angular patterns, generalized Brewster angle, and nonradiating optical anapoles. We further discuss other types of possible multipolar interference effects not yet exploited in literature and envisage the prospect of achieving more flexible and advanced nanoscale control of light relying on the concepts of multipolar interference through full phase and amplitude engineering.