Mie Scattering for Photonic Devices

Abstract Mie scattering is increasingly exploited to manipulate electromagnetic fields to achieve strong resonant enhancement, to obtain perfect absorption of radiation, and to generate polarization or wavelength selectivity and/or sensitivity. In fact, a multitude of photonic applications are arising that benefit from Mie scattering and have already led to the formation of novel image and hologram schemes or to the design of efficient and compact photodetectors and light sources. Here, the Mie scattering theory for spherical scatterers is reviewed, the basics of the field‐decomposition onto the Mie modes are shown, and dielectric and metallic particles are compared. Recent applications for light spectrum control, detection, non‐linear effects enhancement, and emission are reviewed. How a periodic arrangement of Mie‐scatterers can be utilized to create a strong (in the order of 10 to 100) absorption enhancement in otherwise weakly absorbing layers is also demonstrated. The enhancement dependence on the diameter‐to‐wavelength ratio of the scatterer is analyzed, and how the influence of different Mie‐modes can be distinguished in the periodic array by looking at the field components normal to the scatterer surface is discussed.