2025/11/05 by Thanh Xuan Hoang, Hoang, Thanh Xuan, Ayan Nussupbekov +9
Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) #Disordered Systems and Neural Networks (cond-mat.dis-nn) #FOS: Physical sciences #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications #Optics (physics.optics) #Photonic Crystals and Applications #Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2511.03560
openalex publication_date 2025/11/05 · openalex created_date 2025/11/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
It is usually believed that symmetry breaking in photonic systems leads to weaker optical confinement, such as in the case of metasurfaces when bound states in the continuum are replaced by quasi-bound states with lower quality factors (Q factors). Here we show that symmetry breaking can instead enhance light trapping by strengthening in-plane nonlocal coupling pathways. We consider finite-size arrays of optical resonators supporting Mie resonances (a Mie-tronics platform) and employ diffraction and multiple-scattering analyses. We demonstrate that diffractive bands and Mie-tronics supermodes originate from the same underlying Mie resonances but differ fundamentally in their physical nature. Finite arrays exhibit Q-factor enhancement driven by redistributed radiation channels, and reversing the trends predicted by infinite-lattice theories. We reveal that controlled symmetry breaking opens new electromagnetic coupling channels, enabling polarization conversion in nonlocal metasurfaces. These novel findings establish a unified wave-physics platform linking both scattering and diffraction theories. Also, they outline the design principles for multi-functional metasurfaces that exploit nonlocality for advanced light manipulation, computation, and emission control.