A study of electromagnetic scattering theories at the mesoscopic limit

Abstract

In this scientific initiation work, we propose to study analytical theories of electromagnetic scattering at the mesoscopic scale combined with computational studies of cases of interest for the optical trapping of nanoparticles in optical tweezers. The best-known theories treat the limits where the scattering object is much larger (geometric limit) or much smaller (Rayleigh limit) than the wavelength of the incident beam. Analytical theories for light scattering by intermediate-sized objects are sparse and have limitations regarding the geometry of the scattering body, but they are becoming increasingly relevant to nanotechnology. In this project, the student will learn, among other things, the use of matrix methods (transition T-matrix) to deal with optical scattering problems, as a generalization of Mie theory, and will also learn about optical trapping in optical tweezers. (AU)