Achouri, KarimKiselev, AndreiMartin, Olivier J. F.2020-08-162020-08-162020-08-162020-08-0410.1103/PhysRevB.102.085107https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/170881WOS:000555320900001We propose a theoretical study on the electromagnetic forces resulting from the superposition of TE and TM plane waves interacting with a sphere. Specifically, we first show that, under such an illumination condition, the sphere is subjected to a force transverse to the propagation direction of the waves. We then analyze the physical origin of this counterintuitive behavior using a multipolar decomposition of the electromagnetic modes involved in that scattering process. This analysis reveals that interference effects, due to the two-wave illumination, lead to a Kerker-like asymmetric scattering behavior resulting in this peculiar transverse force.Materials Science, MultidisciplinaryPhysics, AppliedPhysics, Condensed MatterMaterials SciencePhysicsoptical forcesmanipulationparticleslighttext::journal::journal article::research article