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Abstract

We present a fully analytical point scattering model that can be applied to arbitrary anisotropic magnetoelectric dipole scatterers, including split ring resonators (SRRs) and chiral and anisotropic plasmonic scatterers. We have taken proper account of reciprocity and radiation damping for electric and magnetic scatterers with any general polarizability tensor, including magnetoelectric interactions. Our theory sheds new light on the magnitude of cross sections for scattering and extinction, and, for instance, on the emergence of structural chirality in the optical response of geometrically nonchiral scatterers such as SRRs and SRR clusters. Specifically, we predict which observables in scattering experiments allow to fully quantify all components of the polarizability tensor of SRR’s, including their off-diagonal magnetoelectric response. Finally, we show that our model describes well the extinction of stereodimers of split rings, while providing a completely new interpretation of the coupling mechanisms underlying recent experiments.