arXiv subjects

Alexander S. Shalin

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander S. Shalin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Nonlocal Optomechanics: Hybrid Anapole Opens a New Route to Optical Tweezing

Optical tweezers confine a particle in an intensity-defined potential well by engaging its local multipoles. In this picture, eliminating far-field scattering from the particle should cancel the optical force, as the multipole moments underpinning the conventional optomechanical response vanish. We show that certain resonant states, such as, e.g., the hybrid anapole state, enable qualitatively different optical manipulation, nonlocal by nature, where the optical force exhibits nontrivial spatial variations absent in conventional tweezing, establishing a new framework for manipulating resonant nanoparticles.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Direct observation of photonic spin Hall effect in Mie scattering

The photonic spin Hall effect (PSHE), a hallmark of spin-orbit interaction of light, has long been considered a promising route toward spin-controlled functionalities in nanophotonics. Yet, its practical realization has been severely limited by the inherently weak spin-orbit coupling in typical systems, resulting in vanishingly small transverse shifts and extremely low scattering efficiency. This fundamental trade-off has rendered the PSHE observable only through complex weak measurement protocols and signal amplification-approaches that come at the cost of further intensity loss, particularly in nanoscale systems. In this work, we overcome this longstanding challenge by introducing a novel mechanism based on symmetry breaking and mode coupling in a standalone scatterer, which unlocks a regime of Friedrich-Wintgen superscattering with strong near-field spin-orbit interaction. This allows for simultaneous enhancement of both the photonic spin Hall shift and the far-field scattering intensity-boosting the latter by nearly two orders of magnitude compared to conventional dipolar particles. Through tailored multipolar interference, the PSHE is made accessible at experimentally convenient angles, enabling post selection-free detection. We report the first direct experimental observation of the PSHE from a single superscattering particle, achieved in the microwave regime via polarization-resolved far-field measurements. Our findings not only validate a new physical pathway for enhancing spin-dependent light-matter interactions, but also establish a robust, scalable platform for spin-based photonic technologies. This breakthrough opens new avenues in precision optical metrology, advanced imaging, LIDAR systems, and integrated photonic circuitry, bridging a critical gap between fundamental spin optics and real-world applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Ultrasensitive Higher-Order Exceptional Points via Non-Hermitian Zero-Index Materials

Higher-order exceptional points (EPs) in optical structures enable ultra-sensitive responses to perturbations. However, previous investigations on higher-order EPs have predominantly focused on coupled systems, leaving their fundamental physics in open scattering systems largely unexplored. Here, we harness wave interference to realize higher-order EPs in non-Hermitian zero-index materials connected to multiple open channels. Specifically, we show that a three-channel model can give rise to three interesting types of third-order EPs: lasing EP, reflecting EP, and absorbing EP. Notably, near the third-order absorbing EP, we show ultrasensitivity -- a drastic change in output power in response to perturbations at the operating frequency -- in a purely lossy system. These findings pave the way for achieving higher-order and even arbitrary-order EPs in open scattering systems, offering significant potential for advanced sensing applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Magnetoelectric Exceptional Points in Isolated All-Dielectric Nanoparticles

We consider the scattering of electromagnetic waves by non-spherical dielectric resonators and reveal that it can be linked to the exceptional points underpinned by the physics of non-Hermitian systems. We demonstrate how symmetry breaking in the shape of an isolated dielectric nanoparticle can be associated with the existence of an exceptional point in the eigenvalue spectrum and formulate the general conditions for the strong coupling of resonances, illustrating them for the example of the electric dipole and magnetic dipole modes supported by a silicon nanoparticle. We argue that any two modes of a dielectric nanoparticle can lead to an exceptional point provided their resonant frequencies cross as a function of a tuning parameter, such as, e.g. its aspect ratio, and their field distributions should have opposite signs after a reflection in the transverse plane of the structure. The coupled modes radiate as a mixture of electric and magnetic dipoles, which result in a strong magnetoelectric response, being easily controlled by the symmetry breaking perturbation. We also investigate the influence of a dielectric substrate, demonstrating how the latter provides an additional mechanism to tune the position of exceptional points in the parameter space. Finally, we discuss applications of magnetoelectric exceptional points for refractive index sensing.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Special scattering regimes for conical all-dielectric nanoparticles

All-dielectric nanophotonics opens a venue for a variety of novel phenomena and scattering regimes driven by unique optical effects in semiconductor and dielectric nanoresonators. Their peculiar optical signatures enabled by simultaneous electric and magnetic responses in the visible range pave a way for a plenty of new applications in nano-optics, biology, sensing, etc. In this work, we investigate fabrication-friendly truncated cone resonators and achieve several important scattering regimes due to the inherent property of cones - broken symmetry along the main axis without involving complex geometries or structured beams. We show this symmetry breaking to deliver various kinds of Kerker effects (Generalized and Transverse Kerker effects), non-scattering hybrid anapole regime (simultaneous anapole conditions for all the multipoles in a particle leading to the nearly full scattering suppression) and, vice versa, superscattering regime. Being governed by the same straightforward geometrical paradigm, discussed effects could greatly simplify the manufacturing process of photonic devices with different functionalities. Moreover, the additional degrees of freedom driven by the conicity open new horizons to tailor light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

On the existence of pure, broadband toroidal sources in electrodynamics

Multipoles are paramount for describing electromagnetic fields in many areas of nanoscale optics, playing an essential role for the design of devices in plasmonics and all-dielectric nanophotonics. Challenging the traditional division into electric and magnetic moments, toroidal moments have been proposed as a physically distinct family of multipoles with significant contributions to the properties of matter. However, the apparent impossibility of separately measuring their response sheds doubt on their true physical significance. Here, we confirm the possibility of selectively exciting toroidal moments without any other multipole. We develop a set of general conditions that any current distribution must fulfill to be entirely described by toroidal moments, and prove our results in an analytically solvable case. Our new theory allows us to design and verify experimentally for the first time an artificial structure supporting a pure, broadband toroidal dipole response in the complete absence of the electric dipole and other 'ordinary' multipole contributions. In addition, we propose a structure capable of supporting a novel type of nonradiating source, a 'toroidal anapole', originating from the destructive interference of the toroidal dipole with the unconventional electromagnetic sources known as mean square radii. The results in this work provide conclusive evidence on the independent excitation of toroidal moments in electrodynamics.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2022

CPA-lasing associated with the quasibound states in the continuum in asymmetric non-Hermitian structures

Non-Hermitian photonic systems with loss and gain attract much attention due to their exceptional abilities in molding the flow of light. Introducing asymmetry to the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric system with perfectly balanced loss and gain, we reveal the mechanism of transition from the quasibound state in the continuum (quasi-BIC) to the simultaneous coherent perfect absorption (CPA) and lasing in a layered structure comprising epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) media. Two types of asymmetry (geometric and non-Hermitian) are analyzed with the scattering matrix technique. The effect of the CPA-lasing associated with the quasi-BIC is characterized with the unusual linear dependence of the quality factor on the inverse of asymmetry parameter. Moreover, the counter-intuitive loss-induced-lasing-like behavior is found at the CPA-lasing point under the non-Hermitian asymmetry. The reported features of non-Hermitian structures are perspective for sensing and lasing applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Transparent Hybrid Anapole metasurfaces with negligible electromagnetic coupling for phase engineering

All-dielectric nanophotonics has become one of the most active fields of research in modern optics, largely due to the opportunities offered by the simultaneous resonant control of electric and magnetic components of light at the nanoscale. In this rapidly evolving scenario, the possibility to design artificial Huygens sources by overlapping electric and magnetic resonances has established a new paradigm in flat optics, bringing devices closer to efficient wavefront shaping with a direct phase engineering at the level of the individual meta-atoms. However, their efficiency is fundamentally limited by the near field coupling between the constituents of the metalattice. In this work, we challenge this well-conceived notion and propose an alternative concept to achieve phase control and full transmission in metasurfaces, based on the unusual properties of the nonradiating sources known as Hybrid Anapoles (HAs). We analyze theoretically an array of such sources and demonstrate that HAs are characterized by a negligible coupling with their neighbors. Therefore, in contrast to Huygens particles, the proposed sources can operate as individual meta-atoms even in highly compact designs, becoming robust against strong disorder and preserving its characteristics when deposited on dielectric substrates. Remarkably, the phase of the transmitted wave can be modulated with negligible reflection. To illustrate the capabilities of our platform, we also utilize a disordered HA array to implement a controlled phase modulation to an ultrafast gaussian pulse. The results of our study represent a departure from the currently established designs and open an avenue towards the realization of new devices for flat optics with unprecedented efficiency.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Biological Kerker effect boosts light collection efficiency in plants

Being the polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), vaterite and calcite have attracted a great deal of attention as promising biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Furthermore, they are important biogenic minerals, enabling living organisms to reach specific functions. In nature, vaterite and calcite monocrystals typically form self-assembled polycrystal micro- and nanoparticles, also referred to as spherulites. Here, we demonstrate that alpine plants belonging to the Saxifraga genus can tailor light scattering channels and utilize multipole interference effect to improve light collection efficiency via producing CaCO3 polycrystal nanoparticles on the margins of their leaves. To provide a clear physical background behind this concept, we study optical properties of artificially synthesized vaterite nanospherulites and reveal the phenomenon of directional light scattering. Darkfield spectroscopy measurements are supported by a comprehensive numerical analysis, accounting for the complex microstructure of particles. We demonstrate the appearance of generalized Kerker condition, where several higher order multipoles interfere constructively in the forward direction, governing the interaction phenomenon. As a result, highly directive forward light scattering from vaterite nanospherulites is observed in the entire visible range. Furthermore, ex vivo studies of microstructure and optical properties of leaves for the alpine plants Saxifraga 'Southside Seedling' and Saxifraga Paniculata Ria are performed and underlined the importance of Kerker effect for these living organisms. Our results pave the way for a bioinspired strategy of efficient light collection by selfassembled polycrystal CaCO3 nanoparticles via tailoring light propagation directly to the photosynthetic tissue with minimal losses to undesired scattering channels.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2021

Superscattering Empowered by Bound States in the Continuum

We uncover a novel mechanism for superscattering of subwavelength resonators closely associated with the physics of bound states in the continuum. We demonstrate that superscattering occurs as a consequence of constructive interference driven by the Friedrich-Wintgen mechanism, and it may exceed the currently established limits for the cross-section of a single open scattering channel, within the channel itself. We develop a non-Hermitian model to describe interfering resonances of quasi-normal modes to show that this effect can only occur for scatterers violating the spherical symmetry, and therefore it cannot be predicted with the classical Mie solutions. Our results reveal unusual physics of non-Hermitian systems having important implications for functional metadevices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Optical Pulling and Pushing Forces via Bloch Surface Waves

Versatile manipulation of nano- and microobjects underlies the optomechanics and a variety of its applications in biology, medicine, and lab-on-a-chip platforms. For flexible tailoring optical forces, as well as for extraordinary optomechanical effects, additional degrees of freedom should be introduced into the system. Here, we demonstrate that photonic crystals provide a flexible platform for nanoparticles optical manipulation due to both Bloch surface waves (BSWs) and the complex character of the reflection coefficient paving a way for complex optomechanical interactions control. We demonstrate that appearance of enhanced pulling and pushing transversal optical forces acting on a single bead placed above a one-dimensional photonic crystal due to directional excitation of Bloch surface wave at the photonic crystal interface. Our theoretical results, which are supported with numerical simulations, demonstrate angle or wavelength assisted switching between BSW-induced optical pulling and pushing forces. Easy-to-fabricate for any desired spectral range photonic crystals are shown to be prospective for precise optical sorting of nanoparticles, especially for core-shell nanoparticles, which are difficult to sort with conventional optomechanical methods. Our approach opens opportunities for novel optical manipulation schemes and platforms and enhanced light-matter interaction in optical trapping setups.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Multipole Engineering of Attractive-Repulsive and Bending Optical Forces

Focused laser beams allow controlling mechanical motion of objects and can serve as a tool for assembling complex micro and nano structures in space. While in a vast majority of cases small particles experience attractive gradient forces and repulsive radiation pressure, introduction of additional degrees of freedom into optomechanical manipulation suggests approaching new capabilities. Here we analyze optical forces acting on a high refractive index silicon sphere in a focused Gaussian beam and reveal new regimes of particles anti-trapping. Multipolar analysis allows separating an optical force into interception and recoil components, which have a completely different physical nature resulting in different mechanical actions. In particular, interplaying interception radial forces and multipolar resonances within a particle can lead to either trapping or anti-trapping scenarios, depending of the overall system parameters. At the same time, the recoil force generates a significant azimuthal component along with an angular-dependent radial force. Those contribution enable enhancing either trapping or anti-trapping regimes and also introduce bending reactions. These effects are linked to the far-field multipole interference resulting and, specifically, to its asymmetric scattering diagrams. The later approach is extremely useful, as it allows assessing the nature of optomechanical motion by observing far-field patterns. Multipolar engineering of optical forces, being quite general approach, is not necessarily linked to simple spherical shapes and paves a way to new possibilities in microfluidic applications, including sorting and micro assembly of nontrivial volumetric geometries.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Theory, observation and ultrafast response of novel hybrid anapole states

Modern nanophotonics has witnessed the rise of "electric anapoles", destructive interferences of electric dipoles and toroidal electric dipoles, actively exploited to cancel electric dipole radiation from nanoresonators. However, the inherent duality of Maxwell's equations suggests the intriguing possibility of "magnetic anapoles", involving a nonradiating composition of a magnetic dipole and a magnetic toroidal dipole. Here, we predict, fabricate and observe experimentally via a series of dark field spectroscopy measurements a hybrid anapole of mixed electric and magnetic character, with all the dominant multipoles being suppressed by the toroidal terms in a nanocylinder. We delve into the physics of such exotic current configurations in the stationary and transient regimes and predict a number of ultrafast phenomena taking place within sub-ps times after the breakdown of the hybrid anapole. Based on the preceding theory, we design a non-Huygens metasurface featuring a dual functionality: perfect transparency in the stationary regime and controllable ultrashort pulse beatings in the transient.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Nontrivial Pure Zero-Scattering Regime Delivered by a Hybrid Anapole State

The ability to manipulate electric and magnetic components of light at the nanoscale delivered by dielectric and semiconductor components is paving the way towards novel types of sources and nanoantennae with exceptional electromagnetic signatures, flexible and tunable metasurface architectures, enhanced light harvesting structures, etc. Recently, the anapoles states arising from the destructive interference of basic multipoles and their toroidal counterparts have been widely exploited to cancel radiation from an individual scattering channel of isolated nanoresonators, while displaying nontrivial near fields. As such, anapole states have been claimed to correspond to non-radiating sources. Nevertheless, these states are commonly found together with high order multipole moments featuring non-zero overall far-field. In this paper, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a fully non-scattering state governed by a novel 4-fold hybrid anapole with all the dominant multipoles suppressed by their corresponding toroidal (retarded) terms, i.e. a dark analogue of the superscattering effect. This invisibility state, however, allows for non-trivial near-field maps enabled by the unique interplay of the resonant Mie-like and Fabry-Perot modes as demonstrated by the quasi-normal modal expansion. Moreover, the hybrid anapole state is shown to be protected; the spectral position of the non-scattering point remains unperturbed in the presence of a substrate with significantly high refractive index. We experimentally verify our novel effect by means of dark field measurements of the scattering response of individual nanocylinders. The results are of high demand for efficient sensing and Raman scattering setups with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, highly transmissive metasurfaces for phase manipulation, holograms, and a large span of linear and non-linear applications in dielectric nanophotonics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Tailored optical potentials for Cs atoms above waveguides with focusing dielectric nano-antenna

Tuning the near-field using all-dielectric nano-antennae offers a promising approach for trapping atoms, which could enable strong single-atom/photon coupling. Here we report the simulation results of an optical trapping concept, in which a silicon nano-antenna produces a trapping potential for atoms in a chip-scale configuration. Using counter-propagating incident fields, bichromatically detuned from the atomic cesium D-lines, we numerically investigate the dependence of the optical potential on the nano-antenna geometry. We tailor the near-field potential landscape by tuning the evanescent field of the waveguide using a toroidal nano-antenna, a configuration that enables trapping of ultracold Cs atoms.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Nanovortex-driven all-dielectric optical diffusion boosting and sorting concept for lab-on-a-chip platforms

The ever-growing field of microfluidics requires precise and flexible control over fluid flow at the micro- and nanoscales. Current constraints demand a variety of controllable components for performing different operations inside closed microchambers and microreactors. In this context, novel nanophotonic approaches can significantly enhance existing capabilities and provide new functionalities via finely tuned light-matter interaction mechanisms. Here we propose a novel design, featuring a dual functionality on-chip: boosted optically-driven particle diffusion and nanoparticle sorting. Our methodology is based on a specially designed high-index dielectric nanoantenna, which strongly enhances spin-orbit angular momentum transfer from an incident laser beam to the scattered field. As a result, exceptionally compact, subwavelength optical nanovortices are formed and drive spiral motion of peculiar plasmonic nanoparticles via the efficient interplay between curled spin optical forces and radiation pressure. The nanovortex size is an order of magnitude smaller than that provided by conventional beam-based approaches. The nanoparticles mediate nano-confined fluid motion enabling nanomixing without a need of moving bulk elements inside a microchamber. Moreover, precise sorting of gold nanoparticles, demanded for on-chip separation and filtering, can be achieved by exploiting the non-trivial dependence of the curled optical forces on the nanoobject size. Altogether, this study introduces a versatile platform for further miniaturization of moving-part-free, optically driven microfluidic chips for fast chemical synthesis and analysis, preparation of emulsions, or generation of chemical gradients with light-controlled navigation of nanoparticles, viruses or biomolecules.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Magnetic Octupole Response of Dielectric Oligomers

The development of new approaches to tuning the resonant magnetic response of simple all-dielectric nanostructures is very important in modern nanophotonics. Here we show that a resonant magnetic octupole (MOCT) response can be obtained by dividing a solid rectangular silicon block to an oligomer structure with the introduction of narrow gaps between four nanocubes. We control and tune the spectral position of the MOCT resonance by varying the distance between the nanocubes. We demonstrate that several magnetic hot-spots related to the MOCT resonance can be located in the gaps creating a strong magnetic field gradient in free space. We observe that the resonant excitation of the MOCT moment leads to a significant enhancement of light absorption in the system at the spectral region, where light absorption in bulk silicon is weak. The results of this work can be applied to design new composite antennas and metamaterials based on complex building blocks, energy harvesting devices and molecular trapping with magnetic hot-spots.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Diffusion-inspired time-varying phosphorescent decay in nanostructured environment

Structured environment controls dynamics of light-matter interaction processes via modified local density of electromagnetic states. In typical scenarios, where nanosecond-scale fluorescent processes are involved, mechanical conformational changes of the environment during the interaction processes can be safely neglected. However, slow decaying phosphorescent complexes (e.g. lanthanides) can efficiently sense micro- and millisecond scale motion via near-field interactions. As the result, lifetime statistics can inherit information about nano-scale mechanical motion. Here we study light-matter interaction dynamics of phosphorescent dyes, diffusing in a proximity of a plasmonic nanoantenna. The interplay between the time-varying Purcell enhancement and stochastic motion of molecules is considered via a modified diffusion equation, and collective decay phenomena is analysed. Fluid properties, such as local temperature and diffusion coefficient are mapped on phosphorescent lifetime distribution extracted with the help of inverse Laplace transform. We present rather simple photonic platform enabling contactless all-optical thermometry and diffusion measurement and paving a way for a plethora of possible applications. Among them, the proposed analysis can be used for detailed studies of nanofluidic processes in lab-on-a-chip devices, which are extremely hard or even impossible to analyse with other optical methods.

physics.optics↗