Epsilon-Near-Zero (ENZ)-based Optomechanics

TL;DR

This paper explores how epsilon-near-zero metamaterials influence optical forces on particles, offering insights into manipulating light-induced forces for advanced optomechanical applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analytical and numerical analysis of optical forces near ENZ materials, including effects of material composition and particle shape, advancing optomechanics understanding.

Findings

ENZ materials can induce both repulsive and attractive optical forces.

Layered ENZ substrates significantly affect force magnitude and direction.

Complex particle shapes and compositions alter optomechanical interactions.

Abstract

Optomechanics deals with the control and applications of mechanical effects of light that stems from the redistribution of photon momenta in light scattering. Here, we investigate, analytically and numerically, optical forces on polarizable particles in proximity of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials. We look at the general features of the repulsive-attractive optomechanics from the nano to the microscale exploiting different theoretical methods (dipole approximation, finite elements calculations, transition (T-)matrix). We discuss the role of realistic layered materials, as our ENZ substrate, on optical forces and analyze the influence of composition and shape by studying a range of complex particles (dielectric, core-shell, plasmonic ellipsoids). Physical insights into the results are discussed and future research directions are forecasted. Our results provide new possibilities in exploiting engineered materials and surfaces for the manipulation and tailoring of light-induced forces in optomechanics.