Active tuning of directional scattering by combining magneto-optical effects and multipolar interferences. Issue 38 (24th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, M. Q.; Zhao, C. Y.; Wang, B. X.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 10:Issue 38(2018)
• Page Start: 18282
• Page End: 18290
• Publication Date: 2018-09-24
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nr05692g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Achieving directional optical switching between forward and backward scattering with an external magnetic field B in a dynamic way. Abstract : An efficient route is proposed to actively manipulate directional scattering based on magneto-optical (MO) effects and multipolar interferences with a coated MO cylinder. We demonstrate that the presence of an external magnetic field B contributes to breaking the degeneracy of multipoles and making them rotate. The rotated modes further interfere with each other, thus reshaping scattering profiles and introducing novel directional optical switching (OS) phenomena. As a result, we show that forward scattering (FS) and backward scattering (BS) can be flexibly altered by turning on or off the B for both s-polarization and p-polarization, and optical switching exhibits broadband performance as well. More specifically, the proposed nanostructure also operates robust and reliable functionalities when considering realistic MO materials with optical loss and dispersion; therefore, they are ideal candidates to develop reconfigurable, tunable and versatile optical devices.