Theoretical and experimental study of optical resonances in dielectric Mie resonators to enhance light-matter interactions

Abstract

Subwavelength scatterers made of dielectric or semiconductor materials such as silicon and possessing a large refractive index have recently emerged as a good platform to enhance light-matter interactions through the excitation of Mie resonances. In the scope of this thesis, we studied the interaction between light and high refractive index scatterers from both a theoretical and experimental point of view. In particular, we theoretically studied resonances of high-refractive index scatterers in the framework of the multipolar basis. We started by determining the conditions that maximize the scattering or absorption of light by particles. We then performed a theoretical study based on the eigen-modes of the optically resonant particles. In particular, we demonstrated that besides a resonant term, the scattered field has a non-resonant contribution. We finally combined theory with experiments to show that the Mie resonances permit to enhance the nonlinear effects, and in particular four-wave mixing, in silicon nanodisks.