Mie resonances and bonding in photonic crystals

TL;DR

This paper explores how dielectric spheres exhibit Mie resonances that can form bonding interactions, enabling control over photonic crystal structures through light-induced resonant states rather than traditional forces.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of using Mie resonances and bonding states in dielectric spheres to actively manipulate photonic crystal structures.

Findings

Dielectric spheres support resonant modes analogous to electronic orbitals.

Bonding interactions can be induced by light at specific resonant frequencies.

Potential to control structures via optical means instead of gravitational or Van der Waals forces.

Abstract

Isolated dielectric spheres support resonant electromagnetic modes which are analogous to electronic orbitals and, like their electronic counterparts, can form bonding or anti-bonding interactions between neighbouring spheres. By irradiating the system with light at the bonding frequency an attractive interaction is induced between the spheres. We suggest that by judicious selection of bonding states we can drive a system towards a desired structure, rather than rely on the structure dictated by gravitational or Van der Waals forces, the latter deriving from the zero point energy population of a state.