Magneto-electric coupling in nonidentical plasmonic nanoparticles: Theory and applications

We explore the optical properties of a meta-atom made of plasmonic nanopatches that possess an increasing degree of complexity. We show that if two nanopatches are strongly coupled and have a different geometrical footprint, the meta-atom exhibits a resonant magnetoelectric response, in addition to the anticipated resonant electric and magnetic response. Thus, it behaves similarly as the so-called omega particle, but with the unique advantage that frequency and strength of this magnetoelectric resonance can be independently tuned and modified with respect to the corresponding values of the electric resonance. This allows a metasurface of such meta-atoms to possess widely controlled reflection and transmission coefficients, e.g., the regimes of strongly asymmetric reflectance and perfect absorption become possible. Alternatively, an individual meta-atom of such kind can act as a directive nanoantenna with zero backscattered fields (Huygens' scatterer).