Manipulating light scattering by nanoparticles with magnetoelectric coupling

Light scattering by nanoparticles can be well understood and manipulated in the framework of induced electromagnetic multipoles. Conventionally, the scattering properties of light by nanoparticles are considered to be a result of superposition of the radiation from the induced multipoles due to their orthogonality. Here, we reveal that the interaction between the electric and magnetic dipoles in adjacent nanoparticles can provide an additional route to manipulate light scattering. Specifically, we show that an all-dielectric dimer can support the magnetoelectric coupling effect, in which the electric/magnetic dipole in one nanoparticle can induce an additional magnetic/electric dipole in the other nanoparticle. Such additional electric and magnetic dipoles can suppress or enhance light extinction, which is determined by the phase relationship with respect to the incident field. Furthermore, the magnetoelectric coupling induced dipoles can modify the far-field scattering pattern and even realize unidirectional forward scattering. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, experimental measurements at microwave frequency were performed, and the results are in good agreement with the theoretical ones. Our results may pave the way for manipulating light scattering and novel wave phenomena with magnetoelectric coupling.