Modifying magnetic dipole spontaneous emission with nanophotonic structures

Review article, 2017

Tailoring of electromagnetic spontaneous emission predicted by E. M. Purcell more than 50 years ago has undoubtedly proven to be one of the most important effects in the rich areas of quantum optics and nanophotonics. Although during the past decades the research in this field has been focused on electric dipole emission, the recent progress in nanofabrication and study of magnetic quantum emitters, such as rare-earth ions, has stimulated the investigation of the magnetic side of spontaneous emission. Here, we review the state-of-the-art advances in the field of spontaneous emission enhancement of magnetic dipole quantum emitters with the use of various nanophotonics systems. We provide the general theory describing the Purcell effect of magnetic emitters, overview realizations of specific nanophotonics structures allowing for the enhanced magnetic dipole spontaneous emission, and give an outlook on the challenges in this field, which remain open to future research.