Field structures and singularities in subwavelength optics

TL;DR

This paper reviews electromagnetic field singularities in subwavelength optics, discussing their physical origins, mathematical descriptions, and implications for overcoming diffraction limits with experimental and practical insights.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of field singularities in subwavelength optics, highlighting their features, physical basis, and potential for practical applications.

Findings

Singularities are influenced by symmetry and energy conservation.

Methods to overcome diffraction limits are discussed.

Experimental examples illustrate theoretical concepts.

Abstract

A brief overview of the current state of the problem of electromagnetic field singularities arising from the refraction and scattering of light by material objects is given. The discussion begins with caustics arising from ray tracing in geometric optics and consistently moves toward increasing the accuracy of consideration and decreasing the scale, ending with a description of singularities in light scattering by subwavelength particles. Common and distinctive features of various types of singularities, the role of the symmetry of the problem and the law of conservation of energy are revealed. Physical foundations and methods for overcoming the diffraction limit are discussed. The theoretical description is illustrated by experimental examples. Various practical applications of the effects under consideration are indicated.