Light scattering by a magneto-optical nanoparticle in front of a flat surface: Perturbative approach

Abstract

We develop a perturbative formalism for the interaction of a magneto-optical nanoparticle with a flat surface made of a dielectric or metallic material. The formalism leads to a simple interpretation of the interplay between the purely dielectric and the magneto-optical responses, in terms of excitation of (and radiation by) two orthogonal electric dipoles. We analyze two different routes for the enhancement of the magneto-optical response with respect to the purely dielectric contribution, both based on the nanoparticle-surface interaction. The enhancement is discussed in terms of relevant magneto-optical signals, such as changes in reflectivity, polarization (Kerr) rotation, and ellipticity. © 2012 American Physical Society.