- 1Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- 2Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- 3Department of Sciences and Technology, Ranyah University College, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- 4Department of Mathematics, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
The interaction of a Bessel pincer light-sheet beam (BPLSB) with a metamaterial perfect electromagnetic conductor (PEMC) sphere is analyzed using the generalized Lorenz–Mie theory (GLMT). The electric field of the BPLSB is expanded by utilizing the vector angular spectrum decomposition method (VASDM). The electromagnetic fields (incident and scattered) are reconstructed by utilizing the vector spherical wave functions (VSWFs) and expanded beam shape coefficients (BSCs). Implementing the boundary conditions (BCs) on a metamaterial PEMC sphere yields the unknown expansion coefficients of the scattered electromagnetic fields. Unlike earlier GLMT studies that used plane wave or simple Bessel beams, the BPLSB source for a metamaterial PEMC sphere is employed. To investigate the electromagnetic scattering dynamics, the impacts of various configuration parameters of BPLSB, like beam order and beam scaling parameter, in addition to electromagnetic admittance and size parameter of the PEMC sphere, are analyzed meticulously. The scattering characteristics of BPLSBs by a metamaterial PEMC sphere are numerically analyzed in terms of scattering efficiency and scattering intensity in the far-field/far-zone region. This work will aid in exploring scattering and propagation, electromagnetic radiation force and torque, optical manipulation, optical tweezers, and light-matter interactions.
1 Introduction
Investigation of light beams through metamaterials presents significant Challenges for researchers of the optical community, mainly owing to the uncertain scattering of light [1]. Natural materials do not hold the required characteristics that are essential in electromagnetics. The distinctive features of metamaterials are caused by the interaction of electric fields and magnetic fields (electromagnetic fields) of specific order [2]. Researchers have shown significant interest in metamaterials as an evolving technology in optics, electronics, photonics, and other fields because of their remarkable characteristics for electromagnetic interaction [3].
There are several applications for electromagnetic metamaterials, including telecommunication, information and detection systems, optical manipulation, surface improvement technology, metallic antennas, and others, which pique the interest of optical researchers due to their exceptional characteristics [4]. One such renowned metamaterial is known as perfect electromagnetic conductor (PEMC) [5]. The defining feature of the PEMC is that it possesses the attributes of both a perfect electric conductor (PEC) and a perfect magnetic conductor (PMC). The light beam scattered by a PEMC metamaterial comprises both co-polarized and cross-polarized field components. Electromagnetic energy or power of any type cannot propagate through the PEMC medium [6]. It can be used as a boundary material for incident electromagnetic fields. The use of PEMC as a boundary material makes it lossless, non-reciprocal, and an isotropic, i.e., having the same physical properties in all directions. PEMC characteristics are defined by the scalar admittance parameter
Furthermore, researchers have conducted comprehensive studies on the scattering of structured light beams by a PEMC [7, 8]. Due to the straightforward configuration of the metamaterial PEMC sphere, several studies have addressed the scattering characteristics of the PEMC sphere using structured light beams [9, 10]. The interaction between a structured light beam and the metamaterial PEMC sphere, characterized by a relatively tangible structure, has increasingly garnered attention. In contrast to plane waves, beams with arbitrary shapes and polarizations are more influential in scattering due to their distinct features. Consequently, an increasing number of investigations have concentrated on the interaction study between a metamaterial PEMC sphere and structured shaped beams characterized by comparatively simple forms, including Gaussian, Airy, and Hermite–Gaussian (HG) beams [8, 11, 12].
The characteristics of linearly polarized Bessel beams (LPBs) are not limited to axial Poynting flux, polarization consistency, propagation stability, exhaustive field depth, and axial-core structure [13, 14], whereas Bessel pincer light-sheet beams (BPLSBs) have characteristics such as manageable longitudinal fields, remarkable non-diffraction, improved gradients of transverse intensity, and unique signatures towards electromagnetic scattering [15, 16]. Some of the reasonable analysis between LPBs and BPLSBs is discussed in terms of polarization and longitudinal fields, energy and momentum flux, field topology, and impact of PEMC scattering [8, 17–19].
The polarization and longitudinal fields of a BPLSB are spatially organized, thus permitting control
Unraveling light-sheet beams (LSBs) may result in considerable advancements in electromagnetics and optics. So various studies, such as measurement of particle sizing [20], electromagnetic scattering [21, 22], beam shaping engineering [23], particle dynamics [24], microscopy [25], cell imaging [26], and optical manipulation [27], have been done. Many different kinds of structured beams as well as LSBs have been investigated. Several types of structured beams, including LSBs, have been examined. The scattering of a BPLSB by a charged particle has been explored using the generalized Lorenz–Mie theory (GLMT) [15]. Numerical analysis of the electromagnetic radiation force of BPLSB on a dielectric sphere has been done [28]. A comparative study of LSBs, i.e., Bessel and Bessel–Gauss, has been discussed [29]. Interaction of BPLSBs with a small sphere covered by a layer of plasmonic material has been computed [16]. Within the context of GLMT, the scattering of Bessel pincer light-sheet beams (BPLSBs) by a dielectric sphere has been analyzed [17]. The PEMC scattering characteristics irradiated by the Bessel beam have been analyzed and discussed [30, 31]. The generation of photonic nanojets from a PEMC sphere illuminated by a polarized Bessel beam was examined [32]. The diffraction-free Lommel beams for the metamaterial PEMC sphere have been investigated [33]. The scattering of diffraction-free Tricomi beams for spherical scatterer particle has been explored [34]. The radar cross section (RCS) and electromagnetic radiation force on a PEMC sphere have also been computed and discussed [35, 36].
The scattering characteristics of BPLSB in metamaterial PEMC media are currently undocumented. So, this study examines the scattering of a BPLSB by a PEMC sphere, motivated by the optical applications of BPLSB, utilizing the GLMT. The framework of GLMT is very versatile for exploring structured shaped beams using various metamaterial structures. It is an excellent technique to calculate the beam shape coefficients (BSCs) for structured light beams. This approach calculates scattering efficiency and angular distributions reliably under various situations. Additionally, this technique is efficient for linear electromagnetic scattering phenomena but may struggle with significant multi-body interactions in metamaterials. However, it has some limitations. First, GLMT may not be useful for more complex material absorption or scattering characteristics at higher frequencies, causing real-world discrepancies. The approach also requires spherical symmetry, which may limit its relevance for non-spherical objects. Furthermore, exploring the large-scale optical systems with numerous scattering sites can make GLMT computationally expensive. Additionally, increased complexity is involved for high orders or very large size parameters.
Light manipulation and light-sheet microscopy need meticulous control of electromagnetic scattering from shaped beams. Metamaterials such as those of PEMC structures provide tunable boundary conditions (BCs) that traditional materials do not show. The BPLSB’s illumination of a metamaterial PEMC sphere by employing the GLMT is examined, addressing its configuration parameters—a scheme not previously explored in GLMT research. To explore the study, the following contribution involved: (i) a GLMT model tailored for PEMC with electromagnetic coupling specified by the PEMC scalar admittance parameter; (ii) computation of far-field scattering intensity and scattering efficiency using scattering field coefficients with dimensionless size parameter and scattering angle as observable parameters for beam order, beam scaling parameter, and PEMC scalar admittance.
The layout of the work is organized as follows. The second section describes the analytical calculation of the scattering of the BPLSB by a metamaterial PEMC sphere. On the basis of analytical theory proposed in section 2, the numerical results of the far-field/far-zone scattered electric field intensity, when a BPLSB interacts with a PEMC sphere, are analyzed. Section 3 reveals the numerical results, followed by extended computational results on the influence of the electromagnetic admittance
2 Theoretical formulations
The electric field of the BPLSB can be written by using the vector angular spectrum decomposition method (VASDM) of plane waves in terms of Cartesian coordinates about any
The angular spectrum of BPLSB, i.e.,
Equation 2 represents the angular spectrum, while the modified field of the BPLSB is given in Equation 3.
Consider the interaction of BPLSB with its polarized electric field in the
Figure 1. Geometry of BPLSB and metamaterial PEMC sphere for analyzing the interaction model. The intensity distribution of BPLSB with incident beam wavelength
On the basis of the GLMT [37, 38], incident and scattered electromagnetic beam fields for the BPLSB can be written as a product of unknown BSCs, i.e.,
The vectors
The expansion coefficients
Equations 6, 7 express the expansion coefficients.
Here,
Following are the tangential and radial boundary conditions (BCs) that can be used to obtain the unknown scattering coefficients, i.e.,
Equations 8, 9 constitute the BCs of the metamaterial PEMC sphere. Where terms
The incident BPLSB is written in VSWFs employing BSCs, i.e.,
Equations 10, 11 establish the undetermined coefficients as a result of the application of BCs on the PEMC sphere, in which the scattering coefficients
Equations 12–15 constitute the scattering field coefficients of plane wave scattering by the spherical surface of the PEMC sphere.
In the traditional Mie theory, only the scattering coefficients
when
For
Equations 16, 17 designate the scattering coefficients for the sphere of the PMC and the PEC.
These limiting cases show that for the PMC or PEC sphere, only the co-polarized components, i.e.,
As extinction efficiency
Equation 18 dictates scattering efficiency while, the Equations 19, 20 define extinction efficiency.
As no loss of energy occurs inside the PEMC sphere so
The intensity of scattered light beam concerning the vertical and horizontal scattering planes are given as
The FSI is expressed in Equation 21, where
Equations 22, 23 form scattering amplitudes.
3 Numerical results and discussion
Based on the analytical calculations given in Section 2, the BPLSB with wavelength
For the validation of the numerical results, the scattering cross-section for the scattering of the BPLSB from the metamaterial PEMC sphere has been plotted. The configuration parameters regarding the BPLSB are set as the beam order
Figure 2. Comparison between our present work for zeroth order BPLSB
The impacts of the electromagnetic admittance parameter
Figure 3. Far-field scattered intensity for PEMC sphere for various electromagnetic admittance
The co-polarized field represents the scattered field component that is parallel to the polarization of the incident field, whereas the cross-polarized field indicates the component that is perpendicular to the polarization of the incident field. The PEMC boundary conditions (BCs) make things uneven, modifying the way both the field components, i.e., co-polarized and cross-polarized scatter, and it depends on the admittance of the PEMC sphere. The PEMC parameter yields improved control over electromagnetic scattering and propagation characteristics.
The limiting cases of PEMC are explored when it degenerates to PMC
The effects of the dimensionless size parameter, i.e.,
Figure 4. Far-field scattered intensity for PEMC sphere for various dimensionless size parameter
As the size parameter grows, the interaction between the incident BPLSB and the metamaterial PEMC sphere becomes intricate because of various scattering effects and the fact that higher-order multipoles become more significant. However, for PEMC spherical surfaces, these processes are also affected by the BCs, which influence both the co-polarized fields and the cross-polarized field components. Furthermore, as the dimensionless size augments, the co-polarized besides cross-polarized scattering field become more sensitive due to the enhanced electromagnetic interaction of the BPLSB’s order with the large sphere’s surface. Also, for increased size parameter, boosted interference patterns develops, which results in enhanced scattering. Thus, the PEMC surface is valuable in optics for optical manipulation and modifying the electromagnetic scattering characteristics.
Figure 5 illustrates the impact of the beam order
Figure 5. Far-field scattered intensity for PEMC sphere for various beam order
In Figure 6, the impact of the beam scaling parameter
Figure 6. Far-field scattered intensity for PEMC sphere for various real beam scaling parameter
Figure 7 shows the effect of scalar admittance
Figure 7. Scattering efficiency for PEMC sphere for various electromagnetic scalar admittance parameter
Figure 8 shows the behavior of the scattering efficiency of BPLSB for varying the real scaling parameter. The scaling parameter is varied as
Figure 9 exhibits the impact of beam order
This work is excellent for discussing the following: scatterers in spherical forms, linear optics, arbitrary BPLSBs order, and far-field factors. It has well-organized analytical theory, ordered computation, and clear description of all the possible configuration parameters of BPLSB as well as the PEMC scatterer. Some limitations are associated with it, including the condition for perfect sphericity, the omission of nonlinear effects, accurate metamaterial models, and precise beam parameter settings.
4 Conclusions
In this work, the scattering of the BPLSB with a metamaterial PEMC sphere, on the basis of the GLMT, has been investigated. The scattering intensity and scattering efficiency of the PEMC scatterer can be controlled by varying the BPLSB constitutive parameters, such as beam order
Data availability statement
The original contributions offered in the work are included in the manuscript, and further details on the data from the research are provided within the article.
Author contributions
MA: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Software, Writing – review and editing. HA: Writing – review and editing, Funding acquisition, Investigation. MH: Funding acquisition, Writing – review and editing. SA: Funding acquisition, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing – review and editing. AA: Writing – review and editing, Validation, Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition.
Funding
The authors declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by Taif University, Saudi Arabia, project No (TU-DSPP-2024-87).
Acknowledgements
H. M. Alkhoori acknowledges the United Arab Emirates University for financially supporting this work under grant number G00004941. Also, the authors extend their appreciation to Taif University, Saudi Arabia, for supporting this work through project number (TU-DSPP-2024-87).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Keywords: Bessel pincer light-sheet beam, electromagnetic scattering, generalized Lorenz-Mie theory, metamaterials, PEMC sphere
Citation: Arfan M, Alkhoori HM, Hussein M, Althobaiti S and Althobaiti A (2025) Unraveling the electromagnetic interaction of a Bessel pincer light-sheet beam by a metamaterial PEMC sphere. Front. Phys. 13:1691928. doi: 10.3389/fphy.2025.1691928
Received: 24 August 2025; Accepted: 06 November 2025;
Published: 08 December 2025.
Edited by:
Feng Xu, Nanjing University of Posts and Teleco-mmunications, ChinaReviewed by:
Tan Qu, Xi’an University of Electronic Science and Technology, ChinaJing Bai, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, China
Copyright © 2025 Arfan, Alkhoori, Hussein, Althobaiti and Althobaiti. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Hamad M. Alkhoori, aGFtYWQuYWxraG9vcmlAdWFldS5hYy5hZQ==