Broadband forward scattering of light by plasmonic balls: role of multipolar interferences

Abstract

Efficient and broadband forward-scattering is a property of prime importance for meta-atoms if they are to be used in self-assembled metasurfaces. Strong contenders include colloidal nanoresonators with tailored multipolar content to achieve the proper interferences that suppress back-scattering. We consider dense plasmonic balls composed of more than a hundred silver nanoinclusions. Numerical simulations provide a full understanding of the role played by multipole moments in the scattering behavior. They are fabricated using emulsion drying and characterized optically. Strong and efficient forward-scattering is demonstrated over the entire visible range. Electric and magnetic dipole resonances of equal amplitude and phase are evidenced. Such plasmonic balls could be used as meta-atoms for bottom-up metasurface applications.