title: Mirror-image-induced magnetic modes.
abstract: Reflection in a mirror changes the handedness of the real world, and right-handed objects turn left-handed and vice versa (M. Gardner, The Ambidextrous Universe, Penguin Books, 1964). Also, we learn from electromagnetism textbooks that a flat metallic mirror transforms an electric charge into a virtual opposite charge. Consequently, the mirror image of a magnet is another parallel virtual magnet as the mirror image changes both the charge sign and the curl handedness. Here we report the dramatic modification in the optical response of a silicon nanocavity induced by the interaction with its image through a flat metallic mirror. The system of real and virtual dipoles can be interpreted as an effective magnetic dipole responsible for a strong enhancement of the cavity scattering cross section.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques (ICFO), Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xifré-Pérez
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tuzer
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fenollosa
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramiro-Manzano
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quidant
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meseguer
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D007909:Lenses; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon